SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Chiefs made their final roster moves ahead of the Super Bowl by elevating wide receiver Marcus Kemp and interior offensive lineman Austin Reiter from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against Philadelphia.
Kemp was expected to be elevated given the Chiefs’ need for insurance at the receiver position with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney battling injuries and Mecole Hardman on injured reserve. The Chiefs finished the AFC Championship game against Cincinnati with only Kemp, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore as available receivers. Kemp caught the first postseason pass of his career in the game, a gain of 13 yards in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs expect to have Smith-Schuster, Valdes-Scantling, Toney, Moore, Kemp and Justin Watson active tomorrow.
In addition to adding depth at receiver, Kemp is also a valuable special teams contributor. He’s taken on a larger role on special teams in light of the departure of cornerback Chris Lammons, who was claimed on waivers by Cincinnati last month.
The Chiefs also elevated Reiter, who was a starter at center on both the Super Bowl LIV championship team and the Super Bowl LV runner-ups. This is Reiter’s fourth season on the club, and while he adds invaluable insurance in case of a late-developing injury along the offensive line, the promotion is a reward for Reiter’s long-term loyalty to the club and his service on the special team this season.
Kemp has also been a member of the Chiefs, appearing with the club in parts or all of each of the last six seasons. He missed Super Bowl LIV due to a knee injury but appeared in Super Bowl LV with 10 snaps on offense and 18 snaps on defense.
The Chiefs have no injured players with a game-day designation, meaning each of their seven game-day inactive will be healthy scratches.
