The Kansas City Chiefs opted not to elevate players from the practice squad for Week 11 vs. the Denver Broncos. That’s a good sign for guys like WR Xavier Worthy (ankle) and DE George Karlaftis (thumb), who both popped up on the injury report this week. It also signals that a 2025 free agent will make his Chiefs debut.

Chiefs RB Elijah Mitchell poised to be active for first time in 2025

With Isiah Pacheco ruled out for the second consecutive game with an MCL sprain, the Chiefs appear poised to call upon Elijah Mitchell for the first time in 2025 in a pivotal AFC West matchup against the Denver Broncos. In Week 9 vs. the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City elevated RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire from the practice squad. He had just two carries for five yards during that game. Typically, the Chiefs like to keep three running backs active on gameday, which means that Mitchell will likely be active alongside fellow RBs Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith.

Mitchell was signed as a free agent during the 2025 NFL offseason, coming off a season-ending hamstring injury. A sixth-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, Mitchell racked up 963 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, also adding 19 catches for 137 yards and one receiving touchdown. He’s not been as effective since his rookie campaign, missing 12 games in 2022 due to an MCL injury. He was relegated to a backup role behind Christian McCaffrey in 2023.

It’s unclear just how much action Mitchell will see on Sunday afternoon against the Broncos. I’d still expect Hunt and Smith to get the majority of the carries with Pacheco ruled out. They’ve likely got a package of plays for Mitchell installed after the bye week to ease him in after being a healthy scratch all season long to this point.

During the 2025 NFL preseason, Mitchell has 10 carries for 33 yards and one rushing touchdown. His long rush of the preseason was seven yards against the Chicago Bears in preseason Week 3.