Derrick

Gore

Brian Robinson, Antonio Gibson, and rookie sixth-rounder Chris Rodriguez are all that remain in the backfield on the team’s depth chart heading into the 2023 season. Expect Robinson and Gibson to form one of the more formidable one-two punches on an offense trending up under new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Also released or waived were OT Alex Akingbulu, WR Kazmeir Allen, DT Abdullah Anderson, TE/FB Alex Armah, DE William Bradley-King, G Mason Brooks, S Terrell Burgess, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, QB Jake Fromm, LB De’Jon Harris, OT Jaryd Jones-Smith, C Tyler Larsen, G Nolan Laufenberg, DT Benning Potoa’e, S Kendall Smith, WR Brycen Tremayne, CB Jace Whittaker, CB Nick Whiteside II and CB Rachad Wildgoose.

Fromm was pushing to win the third quarterback job after a strong preseason. The former Georgia Bulldog threw for 262 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while completing 68.3 percent of his passes, but the Commanders will roll into Week 1 with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett as their two quarterbacks. It’s possible Fromm will end up back on the practice squad after a strong preseason. The Commanders also cut RB Derrick Gore and CB Tariq Castro-Fields.

He was on their practice squad last season. Luton is now three years removed from a three-start run with the Jaguars in 2020. He will continue to bounce around as practice-squad help, but likely won’t threaten a real depth chart. The Saints also waived RB Derrick Gore.

Gore latches on with the Saints after previously playing with the Chiefs last season. With Mark Ingram hurt, Dwayne Washington has assumed the RB2 role behind Alvin Kamara. Gore will give the Saints more depth at running back.

The designation will end Gore’s season (with the Chiefs, at least) before it begins. Gore had a couple of 40-plus yard games in 2021, adding two rushing touchdowns, but the Chiefs buried him on the depth chart by signing Ronald Jones and re-signing Jerick McKinnon. His absence unclouds the picture at running back for the Chiefs a bit. 28 in December, Gore is no lock to remain on the roster.

Seventh-rounder Pacheco enters a depth chart with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Ronald Jones well ahead of him, and faces a competition with two other rookie UDFA backs (Jerrion Ealy, Tayon Fleet-Davis), Derrick Gore, and Brenden Knox for either one or two roster spots. Any back with some carries in this offense projects to have value, so this is a dynasty league competition to keep an eye on even if nobody’s likely to have value in standard leagues this year.

The Chiefs signed ex-Bucs back Ronald Jones between when Gore was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent and today’s official re-signing. That leaves Gore’s 53-man roster spot in greater limbo, though he does currently check in as the No. 3 back behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire and RoJo. If he avoids more competition between now and training camp, Gore will probably make the team as a special teamer/offensive bit player.

Gore has not officially re-signed, but it is his only option as an exclusive rights free agent. The 27-year-old will be back in Kansas City. That’s if he makes the 53-man roster, of course. Although he is currently technically second in line behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Gore figures to fall further down the depth chart as the offseason progresses. One or both of Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon could be re-signed, while it is quite possible an outside back is added through the draft or free agency. Gore popped up for some big plays in 2021, but his role will not be growing.

With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out, Williams is in line for a significant workload on Sunday. The combination of Williams’ passing game work and goal line usage gives him a higher weekly ceiling than Edwards-Helaire when he has the backfield to himself. Williams looks like a high ceiling RB2. If Williams is at all limited it would mean an increased role for explosive third-year RB Derrick Gore, to the delight of Twitter’s highlight scouts.

It’s a major concern following a potential setback with his lingering shoulder injury. CEH was downgraded to a DNP on Thursday and will likely log another DNP on Friday. Darrel Williams -- he he can play through a toe injury -- would retain workhorse duties if CEH is out for Sunday night against the Steelers. Derrick Gore would be the team’s default RB1 if Edwards-Helaire and Williams are sidelined for the team’s Wild Card tilt.