Aug 17, 2014; Charlotte, NC; Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop (6) against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs on Saturday made 22 transactions to trim the roster to meet the NFL-mandated 53-man roster deadline.
The Chiefs waived 17 players, placed quarterback Tyler Bray (ankle, knee) and wide receiver Kyle Williams (shoulder) on injured reserve, designated defensive end Mike Catapano (illness) to the reserve/non-football injury list and moved wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and right tackle Donald Stephenson to the reserve/suspended list.
“As a collective football operation,” general manager John Dorsey said in a released statement, “coaches and scouts have held numerous discussions on each player during the evaluation process.
“We had excellent competition at every position and that’s a great thing, but today we had to make some difficult decisions to narrow our roster to 53. We appreciate all the time and effort these young men put in for us and wish them all the best.”
The players waived Saturday:
• Safety Jonathon Amaya
• Safety Malcolm Bronson
• Fullback Jordan Campbell
• Defensive lineman Dominique Hamilton
• Wide receiver Mark Harrison
• Guard Ricky Henry
• Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith
• Linebacker Nico Johnson
• Defensive tackle Kyle Love
• Cornerback Justin Rogers
• Defensive lineman Kona Schwenke
• Kicker Ryan Succop
• Linebacker Devan Walker
• Offensive lineman J’Marcus Webb
• Cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke
• Running back Charcandrick West
• Wide receiver Fred Williams
TRANSACTIONS
The Chiefs placed quarterback Tyler Bray and wide receiver Kyle Williams on injured reserve. Bray sustained ankle and knee injuries during the preseason finale, while Williams suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason finale.
The Chiefs placed defensive end Mike Catapano on the reserve non-football injury list, meaning the second-year pro is not expected to return this season and won’t count against the roster. Catapano battled an illness that caused him to miss nine training camp practices in St. Joseph, Mo., four practices in Kansas City and all preseason games.
The Chiefs moved wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and right tackle Donald Stephenson to the reserve/suspended list. Bowe will serve a one-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on substance abuse, while Stephenson serves a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
The Chiefs have roster exemptions for Bowe and Stephenson, as both don’t count against the 53-man roster. The team, however, will need to make roster moves to accommodate their respective return.
OTHER ITEMS
The Chiefs haven’t identified a player as reserve/injured with “designated to return,” but may do so on Sept. 2. Inside linebacker Joe Mays, who recently underwent wrist surgery to repair ligament damage, is a prime candidate.
The Chiefs can establish the 10-man practice squad starting at noon ET.
DEPTH CHART
The below chart is based on subtractions of recent transactions and on the fourth preseason depth chart. The Chiefs will release the first regular season depth chart in the coming days for the season opener.
OFFENSE
| Wide receiver (4) “X” or split end |
Donnie Avery, A.J. Jenkins, Albert Wilson, Frankie Hammond Jr. |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Avery, Jenkins and Chad Hall, who was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 1, 2013.
| Left tackle (1) | Eric Fisher |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Branden Albert and Donald Stephenson. Albert left via free agency in March.
| Left guard (4) | Jeff Allen, Jeff Linkenbach, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Mike McGlynn |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with just Allen at left guard.
| Center (2) | Rodney Hudson, Eric Kush |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Hudson and Kush.
| Right guard (1) | Zach Fulton |
The Chiefs have Jeff Linkenbach, who can play both sides of the offensive line.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Jon Asamoah, who left via free agency in March.
| Right tackle (1) | Ryan Harris |
The Chiefs have a roster exemption while Donald Stephenson serves a four-game suspension. The Chiefs are expected to move left guard to right tackle.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Eric Fisher and Geoff Schwartz. Fisher moved to left tackle during the offseason. Schwartz, one of the team’s swing offensive linemen in 2013, left via free agency in March.
| Tight end (4) | Anthony Fasano, Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris, Richard Gordon |
All four tight ends made the initial cuts.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Fasano, Kelce and Sean McGrath, who retired in late July.
| Wide receiver (1) “Z” or flanker |
Junior Hemingway |
The Chiefs have a roster exemption during Dwayne Bowe’s one-game suspension to start the regular season. Kyle Williams (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve.
Frankie Hammond Jr. projects as the starter at the Z position for the regular season opener.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Bowe, Hemingway and Dexter McCluster.
| Quarterback (3) | Alex Smith, Chase Daniel, Aaron Murray |
The Chiefs placed quarterback Tyler Bray (ankle, knee) on injured reserve.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Smith, Daniel and Bray.
| Running back (5) | Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis, De’Anthony Thomas, Cyrus Gray, Joe McKnight |
The Chiefs kept five running backs after waiving rookie Charcandrick West.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs entered the 2013 season with Charles, Davis and Gray.
| Fullback (1) | Anthony Sherman |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Sherman.
DEFENSE
| Left defensive end (2) | Allen Bailey, Jaye Howard |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Tyson Jackson, Allen Bailey and Mike Catapano.
| Nose tackle (2) | Dontari Poe, Vance Walker |
The Chiefs waived Kyle Love, who came on the final three preseason games with nine tackles (six solo) and a sack.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Poe and Howard.
| Right defensive end (1) | Mike DeVito |
The Chiefs placed Mike Catapano (illness) on the reserve non-football injury list, meaning he’s not expected to return this season or count against the roster.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with DeVito and Anthony Toribio.
| Left outside linebacker (3) | Justin Houston, Frank Zombo, Josh Martin |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Houston, Zombo and Martin.
| Left inside linebacker (2) | Joe Mays, Josh Mauga |
Mauga’s emergence made Nico Johnson, last season’s fourth-round draft pick, expendable. The Chiefs haven’t identified a player for injured reserve/designated to return, but Mays (wrist) makes sense.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Akeem Jordan and Johnson.
| Right inside linebacker (2) | Derrick Johnson, James-Michael Johnson |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with both Johnsons.
| Right outside linebacker (2) | Tamba Hali, Dee Ford |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Hali and Dezman Moses.
| Left cornerback (3) | Marcus Cooper, Chris Owens, Phillip Gaines |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Brandon Flowers and Cooper.
| Right cornerback (2) | Ron Parker, Sean Smith |
DeMarcus Van Dyke was in the running for a roster spot before suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason finale. He was waived/injured, meaning Van Dyke will go to injured reserve if he clears waivers.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Smith, Parker and Dunta Robinson.
| Strong safety (2) | Eric Berry, Daniel Sorensen |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Berry and Quintin Demps.
| Free safety (2) | Husain Abdullah, Kelcie McCray |
The waiving of Malcolm Bronson was a surprise, but the acquisition of McCray via trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Bronson expendable.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs started the season with Abdullah, Kendrick Lewis and Commings, who was then placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.
SPECIALISTS
| Punter (1) | Dustin Colquitt |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: This is Colquitt’s job.
| Kicker (1) | Cairo Santos |
Santos edged veteran Ryan Succop, the team’s seventh-round pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. Succop shouldn’t be out of work for long.
2013 REFERENCE POINT: Succop was the lone place kicker on the roster.
| Long snapper (1) | Thomas Gafford |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: Gafford was the long snapper with tight end Sean McGrath as his backup.
| Punt returner (2) | De’Anthony Thomas, Frankie Hammond |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs entered the season with Dexter McCluster and Quintin Demps, both of whom left via free agency in March.
| Kick returner (3) | Knile Davis, Albert Wilson, De’Anthony Thomas, Frankie Hammond |
2013 REFERENCE POINT: The Chiefs entered the season with Quintin Demps, Dexter McCluster and Knile Davis.
