No one could have predicted how much the Kansas City Chiefs would need Kareem Hunt on Sunday. In a game against an undermanned Los Angeles Chargers team in Week 4, the Chiefs quickly fell into a hole – not just on the scoreboard, but in terms of offensive talent. Luckily, Hunt was there to pick her up.

Hunt may have his name linked, at least temporarily, to the RB1 role just days after returning to the team that selected him with a strong performance against a division rival that gave KC a two-game lead in the AFC West provided.

In Week 4, Hunt had 14 carries for 69 rushing yards and caught another 2 passes for 16 yards, with the majority of that production coming in the second half when the Chiefs finally mustered enough momentum to push past the Chargers on their home court at SoFi Stadium.

Hunt’s performance was far better than most Chiefs fans would have expected in his first game in over five seasons.

First, the Chiefs already had a good tandem the previous week with rookie Carson Steele and veteran Samaje Perine serving as an early/late downs duo that helped put away the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. Steele, in particular, showcased a solid power-running style that becomes more effective as the game goes on, and it was safe to assume that Steele would get the lion’s share of the reps.

Unfortunately for Steele and the team, an early fumble by Steele – his second in three weeks – put the team in an early hole and the Chargers capitalized on it to a quick 10-point lead in the first quarter. From there, Hunt took over and was allowed to remain in that lead role in place of Steele, who will now face real questions about his role and his future commitment.

Instead of just throwing in a touchdown or two to relieve Steele and Perine, the Chiefs gave Hunt the keys to the ground game, and he went to work in the second half with one productive run after another to stress the Chargers’ defense, which ultimately resulted in the green touchdown. The Chiefs would win by a final score of 17-10.

The Chiefs brought Hunt back last Wednesday after losing Isiah Pacheco to injured reserve following a game in which he broke his fibula. However, Hunt arrived too late to be fit and play effectively in Week 3 against the Falcons.

In his seven-year career, Hunt recorded 1,030 carries for 4,436 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 226 passes for 1,890 receiving yards and scored 17 points.