Nov 11, 2013; Tampa, FL; Then-Buccaneers safety Kelcie McCray (35) at Raymond James Stadium. Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs on Thursday traded offensive lineman Rishaw Johnson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for safety Kelcie McCray.
The 6-1, 205-pound McCray entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State with the Miami Dolphins. The Buccaneers claimed McCray off waivers on Oct. 2, 2013.
McCray has appeared in 15 career games and has seven tackles, one pass defensed and a fumble recovery.
The acquisition of McCray provides the Chiefs much-needed depth. All-Pro strong safety Eric Berry did not play in two preseason games and missed practice in recent days with a right heel injury.
The Chiefs signed Johnson to its practice squad days after the Seattle Seahawks waived him. He appeared in three games with one start for the Chiefs in 2013.
Johnson, a second-year pro, entered the offseason as the favorite to win the starting right guard position left vacant by Geoff Schwartz and Jon Asamoah, both of whom left via free agency.
The 6-3, 313-pound Johnson became expendable, however, with the emergence of rookie guard Zach Fulton, who took first-team snaps during training camp and started the past two preseason games.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers announced the trade before the Chiefs.
“We just traded Kelcie McCray to the Kansas City Chiefs for Rishaw Johnson,” Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith announced via comments distributed by the team, “an offensive guard that was with the Seattle Seahawks during the 2012 season and of course with Kansas City during the 2013 season.”
The Chiefs eventually confirmed the trade with a post on its official website and through its official Twitter feed.
