Eric Bieniemy is heading the offense of the Washington Commanders as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Bieniemy is putting his imprint on the team with his vocal approach during off-season activities. He’s also inputting how the roster gets constructed, and that vision may turn to one of his former running backs with the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, the Commanders are “quietly” having preliminary inquiries about free agent running back Kareem Hunt.
Hunt played two seasons with the Chiefs from 2017-2018. Bieniemy was the Chiefs’ running backs coach in Hunt’s rookie season and got promoted to offensive coordinator the following year.
Hunt’s time in Kansas City was his best on the field. As a rookie, Hunt led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards (with eight touchdowns) and made the Prow Bowl. He was well on his way to another superb season in 2018, rushing for 824 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games, and adding seven receiving touchdowns. However, he was cut by the Chiefs after a video surfaced of him physically assaulting a female during a February 2018 incident.
Hunt has since spent four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, primarily as the No. 2 running back behind Nick Chubb. Last season, Hunt requested a trade, but nothing materialized. The Browns transitioned Hunt into a short-yardage back.
He rushed for 468 yards and three touchdowns while averaging a career-low 3.8 yards per carry last season.
It’s unclear what would be the perspective role for Hunt in Washington. The Commanders have a formidable backfield duo with Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. Robinson supplanted Gibson as the lead back last year.
Robinson is a bruising, one-cut runner like Hunt. As a rookie in 2022, Robinson led Washington with 797 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. Gibson had 546 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Gibson also added 46 catches for 353 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
A former college wide receiver, Gibson can contribute to the passing game. He also serves as a returner. He averaged 23.1 yards on 21 kickoff returns. However, the versatile back has ball security troubles that led to him falling on the depth chart.
The Commanders also drafted a running back this year. The team selected former Kentucky stud Chris Rodriguez in the sixth round. He appears to be a thumper also for short yardage.
The market at running back has been dry financially across the league. It would be interesting to see if Hunt is willing to accept a specific role to be on an NFL roster next season. He is just 27 years old, but there has been evidence of a decline even with a decrease in usage.
Adding Hunt to the mix will crowd the backfield, which already is scrambling to carve out roles. Bieniemy has a vision for the Commanders, and we’ll have to wait and see what he does.
