NFL PLAYER NEWS

Chiefs rookie Hunt shrugs off fumble, scores 3 TDs

The Sports Xchange

September 07, 2017 at 11:18 pm.

Sep 7, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (27) runs with the ball against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Photo Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 7, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (27) runs with the ball against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Photo Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Kareem Hunt’s NFL career started with a nifty 7-yard run — and a fumble.

It was enough to make a rookie fall apart in his debut.

However, Hunt, the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting running back because Spencer Ware was lost for the season during the preseason, shook off the fumble and helped bury the Super Bowl champions on Thursday night.

He scored three touchdowns, one on the ground and two through the air, one of those on a 78-yard bomb from Alex Smith. His 246 yards from scrimmage were the most ever by an NFL rookie in his debut. Hunt, a third-round pick out of Toledo, became the third player ever — the first since Marshall Faulk in 1994 with the Indianapolis Colts — to record 150 scrimmage yards and three scores in his debut.

All after a visit from Smith following the fumble.

“We needed him to bounce back and shrug that one off,” Smith said.

The rookie did.

“I had some ups and downs, especially at the beginning of the game,” Hunt said. “I just had to keep playing through it, not get down on myself and keep making plays.

“Honestly, that’s not the way I wanted to start. It was a rough one because I don’t remember the last time I fumbled. It was early in my college career, and I actually got it back. I lost one and knew I couldn’t get down on myself. The guys on the sidelines stuck with me, especially the defense; they said, ‘We got your back.’ They were just letting me know to forget about it and come back and make plays.”

Smith added, “To start on your first carry like that and have it go like that would be hard to overcome for a lot of guys. There was a good chunk there where we were going as Kareem was going — he was really a big chunk of the offense tonight. For a young guy, we put a lot on him, in all facets of the game plan tonight, and he was able to handle it.

“Certainly hats off to him in all those areas, not just physically, but he was able to handle the game plan — it’s a credit to him.”

Chiefs tackle Bryan Witzmann said, “He stepped up. He knew he had a big role to play, and he played it. I can’t credit him enough.”

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