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Kansas City Chiefs running back Dameon Pierce.

The Kansas City Chiefs got the attention of the fanbase when they signed running back Dameon Pierce — a former rookie sensation — to the practice squad, and there was news of KC’s initial plans for Pierce ahead of the Week 14 matchup with the Houston Texans.

“He’s been hitting some kick returns for us,” assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub told reporters on December 4.

Toub added that Pierce is “just getting his feet wet with everything [the Chiefs are] doing on offense,” and that fans shouldn’t expect to see him taking hand-offs in the Kansas City backfield anytime soon. Still, it appears the newcomer could contribute on special teams at some point in the near future.

“I’m sure [Pierce] wants to play badly,” Toub acknowledged. “I haven’t talked to him about it, but I can only imagine that he wants to play. It’s just a matter of learning the offense.”

The veteran coordinator did note that Pierce “could probably play” on special teams but reiterated that he’s “not there yet” with learning the Chiefs’ offense and playbook.

Dave Toub’s Week 14 Assessment of Dameon Pierce Should Come as No Surprise as Chiefs Prepare for Must-Win Game vs. Texans

Toub’s assessment of Pierce is not surprising in the slightest. Head coach Andy Reid tends to bring players in very slowly on the offensive side, due to the complexity of his playbook.

To be clear, this isn’t a Pierce problem or something to be concerned about going forward. Star wide receiver Rashee Rice took half a season to truly earn Reid’s trust. More recently, big-play threat Tyquan Thornton was picked up and then stashed until the following season.

In all likelihood, we’ll see a similar game plan with Pierce, who could be in the conversation for the 2026 running back rotation if he ends up being a good fit for this system.

Right now, the Chiefs are preparing for a must-win matchup with the Texans in Week 14, and all the focus and energy of this coaching staff should go toward that. Pierce is more of a long-term flyer, although perhaps he’ll make a 2025 KC debut as a kick returner.

Pierce Displayed a High Ceiling as a Rookie

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is always on the hunt for untapped potential. He has brought in several failed premium draft picks over the years, hoping to repurpose them under Reid’s coaching staff.

Pierce is the latest reclamation project, and although many of these pickups have turned into nothing, a few of them have hit pretty big for Kansas City.

KC is hoping the former 939-yard rookie rusher can do just that. Pierce contributed 1,104 scrimmage yards for the Texans in 2022, with a yards per carry average of 4.3 and 5 total touchdowns.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old hasn’t done much since, as Houston chose to replace him with veterans like Devin Singletary, Joe Mixon, and Nick Chubb. Most recently, the Texans drafted USC star Woody Marks, who seemed to oust Pierce in 2025.

However, considering the Chiefs’ future need at running back, it’s not the worst idea to put some eggs in a few different baskets.

Starter Isiah Pacheco is a free agent in 2026, and there’s no telling if he and the Chiefs agree on his value after two injury-torn seasons. Similarly, Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell are free agents, too, and both are getting up there in age.

The Chiefs could certainly draft another running back in 2026, but NFL GMs never prefer to force the issue in the draft.

Getting Pierce inside the system early gives him a head start on OTAs and training camp next spring and summer. Who knows, he could even be lined up as the Week 1 starter if the Chiefs clean house at the position, moving forward with Pierce, second-year gadget back Brashard Smith, and a new rookie or two.

Michael Obermuller covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller

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