The ground game has taken a back seat for the Kansas City Chiefs in the Patrick Mahomes era, but the reigning MVP took time in his comments to the media on Wednesday to point out one running back who has made a great first impression on him at training camp.
Asked about rising rookie Deneric Prince during the Chiefs’ post-practice press conference, Mahomes wasn’t bashful in his praise for the up-and-coming talent.
“He [Deneric Prince] can catch the ball in the backfield, he can run the ball really well, and he’s getting better and better with the protection stuff, so I think they’re just continuing to get him reps,” Mahomes explained. “We’re going to have a deep running back room, and it’s always good to have those guys that we can trust to be in there for the big moments of the game.”
While he certainly seems to have earned Mahomes’ trust, Prince is still likely to be a longshot to make Kansas City’s 53-man roster heading into the regular season. However, with a strong enough showing in the Chiefs’ preseason games in the coming weeks, Prince could prove himself too valuable an asset to cut for a team that is looking to add some juice to their running game.