KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs made room for a 16-player class of undrafted free agents Saturday by releasing linebacker Blake Lynch and waiving defensive end B.J. Thompson, who is expected to revert to the club’s roster this weekend.
Thompson went into cardiac arrest after suffering a seizure during a team meeting on June 6, 2024. He spent the season on the non-football illness list as he underwent rehab following the episode.
Placing Thompson on waivers with a failed physical designation means that if no other NFL team submits a claim for him by 3 p.m. Sunday, Thompson will return to the Chiefs on injured reserve. He will not count toward the team’s 90-player roster limit, but he will remain under the care of the team’s physicians, athletic trainers and physical therapists as he continues his rehab.
The Chiefs remain committed to helping Thompson fully recovery from his cardiac arrest and seizure, regardless of whether he returns to football, a source told Chiefs Digest.
The Chiefs selected Thompson in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 166 overall selection. The 26-year-old Thompson spent two seasons at Baylor and four seasons at Stephen F. Austin, where he was twice first-team All-Western Athletic Conference. Thompson was a part of Kansas City’s 2023 Super Bowl championship. He saw his only action that season in the Week 18 season finale at the Los Angeles Chargers, where he made two tackles while playing 28 snaps on defense and 16 special teams snaps.
For the 28-year-old Lynch, this was his second stint with the Chiefs after signing a free agent contract on March 3. He initially signed with the club’s practice squad Dec. 30, and was elevated to the active roster to play in the Week 18 season finale at Denver only six days later. He picked up six combined tackles in the game, including one for a loss, while playing 25 defensive snaps and 22 special teams snaps. The Chiefs released him from the practice squad Jan. 7.
It’s possible Lynch could return to the Chiefs upon the completion of the rookie minicamp on Monday, depending on how many of the undrafted free agents the club opts to keep on the 90-player roster. As an NFL veteran with three years of experience, Lynch becomes a free agent immediately and does not need to pass through waivers. He’s free to sign immediately with any NFL team.
