The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to return two key contributors during the 2021 NFL season. According to a new report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and RB Damien Williams both expect to return to the Chiefs and play in 2021.
Duvernay-Tardif, who opted out of the 2020 NFL season to work in a long-term care facility near his hometown in Canada, had already confirmed that he intends to be back next season. This is the first that we’ve heard of Williams returning to action, though. Williams opted out to take care of his mother who is battling stage 4 cancer. He, of course, played a prominent role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV win a season ago.
The @NFLGameDay Notebook with @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero: The QB carousel is so crazy, teams have even called the #Seahawks on Russell Wilson (no interest, by the way); #Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy expected to re-sign in KC; Two KC players who opted out for '20 will opt back in. pic.twitter.com/gEH3yeXSOZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 7, 2021
Both players returning to action in 2021 would be a big boost to the offense. Duvernay-Tardif would provide another veteran option to an offensive line that has battled through injury and adversity throughout the 2020 season. Williams would give the Chiefs another dynamic option out of the backfield to pair with RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, bolstering depth at a position that could lose a few pieces to free agency.
There’s currently no news on rookie OT Lucas Niang, but given the latest about these two veteran players, it’s safe to assume that he’ll be back for Kansas City too.
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