Chiefs Roster: Samaje Perine doesn’t want revenge game against Broncos

At the start of 2023's free agency, running back Samaje Perine agreed to a two-year contract with Denver Broncos worth $7.5 million.

But after only one season in Denver, Perine was released at the end of training camp. The Kansas City Chiefs promptly signed him — and he's appeared in each of his new team's eight wins this season.

As his two most-recent teams prepared for their first matchup of the season, Perine reflected on his short time in Denver — and a whirlwind transition to Kansas City.

"It went fast," he told reporters, "but it feels pretty good [to be with the Chiefs]. I must say, it feels pretty good."

Despite his quick exit from the club, Perine has no bitterness about his time playing for head coach Sean Payton in Denver.

"It wasn't bad," he recalled. "It was a learning curve... Sean runs a unique offense in the sense of a lot of words — so you really have to lock in. But it was fun. It's a great group of guys over there. I wish nothing but the best for them — at least until we play them."

As younger running backs broke out in Denver's training camp, Perine was quickly identified as a trade candidate before being released. Perine knows it came down to a team going with younger (and cheaper) backfield options.

"It is what it is," he offered. "People like young talent. They like what they like — and that's what it is."

So when he takes the field against his former team on Sunday, don't expect to see Perine with an ax to grind.

"Boosted motivation gets you messed up," he explained, "just because you blow your gasket before you even play. So, you've got to keep it cool, calm and collected at all times."

The Chiefs have primarily used Perine on third downs and obvious passing situations — which has put him on the field when quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce are most likely to be improvising to extend plays. In Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints , the running back experienced it firsthand, when Kelce threw a lateral to Perine to turn a five-yard gain into a 20-yard pickup.

So Perine has learned that in Kansas City, he should expect the unexpected.

"All you can do is stay ready," he remarked. "You never know with [Kelce]. So you just stay in phase [and] make sure he's going down with the ball — and not looking at you to pitch the ball. It all comes pretty quick — but if you stay ready, then you're good."

While Perine has recorded only 184 scrimmage yards this season, that's part of why Kansas City has been so successful. Perine has noticed that his teammates are focused on doing their individual jobs to improve the team's chances for success.

"I feel like it's mainly chemistry," Perine observed, "and everyone's ability to lock in. I feel like this: it wouldn't be what it is if people were just worrying about themselves — worrying about self-accolades.

"I feel like, overall, [it's] the team's ability to just lock in — [to] play the next play and play the next down. Having a great defense also helps with that — because we have a great defense."