The Kansas City Chiefs needed to upgrade their running back room before the trade deadline but failed to do so. Brett Veach did make a move at the position on Sunday, however, signing former Texans running back Dameon Pierce to the Chiefs’ practice squad.

Pierce, a fourth-round pick by the Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Florida, exploded onto the scene for Houston as a rookie, tallying over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns. Unfortunately for Pierce, he was never able to match that production, which is why the Texans were content with letting him go.

Pierce now joins a Chiefs team that desperately could use his services (especially if he can return to his rookie form). As it turns out, Pierce was a hot commodity on the free-agent market, receiving interest from other playoff contenders such as the Bears, Broncos, Chargers, and Eagles, but ultimately chose to sign with the Chiefs.

That Pierce chose to sign with Kansas City over a team with better playoff odds is quite telling. It’d have been easy for him to have wanted to sign with a team leading its division but he went with the 6-5 Chiefs, who kept their playoff hopes alive with an overtime win over Indianapolis on Sunday. But, he chose to sign with the Chiefs because A) he likely believes that they’ll get out of this funk and get into the postseason and B) he has a chance at being a starter in K.C.

The hope is that Pierce is able to step in quickly and add some fire to this backfield but given the Chiefs play the Cowboys on a short week this week, fans might have to wait a bit to see him in the red and gold for the first time. Kareem Hunt has been the Chiefs’ lead back while Isiah Pacheco’s been out with an injury and rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Colts.

Behind Hunt and Pacheco on the depth are rookie Brashard Smith, former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Elijah Mitchell, who has continued to be ignored for whatever reason. We’ve seen now that when the Chiefs actually run the ball, they can milk the clock and control the game. Pierce could be a huge part in helping this team do just that moving forward.

Hopefully, Pierce’s belief in the Chiefs’ ability to get into the playoffs (even as a wild card team) will pay off and he can be a major force for this team as the games get bigger and the lights get brighter.