KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs have until 3 p.m. CDT Tuesday to reduce their 90-player roster down to 53 to begin the NFL season. But the days and hours until then are just the beginning as the team assembles its Week 1 lineup.
You can find my final 53-player roster projection here.
There remain decisions to be made, deals to discuss and roster claims to consider. The Chiefs remain in the market for depth at running back, defensive tackle and cornerback, and the club is also receiving trade calls regarding their own players for possible swaps.
Once the 3 p.m. Tuesday roster deadline passes, teams have until 11 a.m. Wednesday to put in waiver claims on players from other clubs. Players with fewer than four years of accrued experience must pass through waivers before becoming free agents, while players released on Tuesday with four or more years of NFL service become immediate free agents.
Starting at noon CDT Wednesday, clubs can begin assembling their 16-player practice squads. Ten of those players must have no more than two years of accrued NFL seasons while six players can have unlimited experience. Teams can have an exemption for a 17th player from the International Player Pathway Program. The Chiefs currently carry an international roster exemption for Chukwuebuka Godrick.
Current roster count: 53 players
Final Roster Moves
The Chiefs wrapped up their roster reduction to 53 players by placing 29 players on waivers, releasing five veterans, landing three players on injured reserve, and moving one player to the non-football illness list.
Injured Reserve
- TE Jake Briningstool (designated to return)
- CB Nazeeh Johnson (designated to return)
- LB Brandon George
Reserve/Non-Football Illness
- OT Ethan Driskell
Placed on Waivers
- WR Elijah Badger
- DE Owen Carney
- CB Ajani Carter
- OL Dalton Cooper
- S Jacobe Covington
- WR Mac Dalena
- OT Chukweuebuka Godrick
- OG C.J. Hanson
- CB Azizi Hearn
- WR Jimmy Holiday
- DT Coziah Izzard
- LB Cam Jones
- CB Kevin Knowles
- OC Joey Lombard
- DT Fabien Lovett
- DE Nat Matlack
- S Glendon Miller
- LB Xander Mueller
- QB Chris Oladokun
- OT Esa Pole
- WR Hal Presley
- WR Key’Shawn Smith
- CB Melvin Smith
- Te Geor’Quarius Spivey
- RB Carson Steele
- TE Tre Watson
- RB Michael Wiley
- S Major Williams
- QB Bailey Zappe
Veterans Released (Immediate Free Agents)
- LB Cole Christiansen
- S Mike Edwards
- DT Mike Pennel
- TE Robert Tonyan
- DT Marlon Tuipulotu
Chiefs Waive OL Chukwuebuka Godrick
The Chiefs have also waived offensive lineman Chukwuebuka Godrick on Tuesday, a source tells Chiefs Digest, but expect the 24-year-old native of Nigeria to be back on the team’s practice squad if he clears waivers. Godrick showed solid improvement in his third year with the club as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. The Chiefs can use an international exemption for a 17th practice squad slot to maintain Godrick, who saw time at both tackle and guard during training camp and spent most of his time with the No. 2 offensive line.
More Chiefs Cuts Before Practice
Kansas City has waived running back/fullback Carson Steele and linebacker Cole Christiansen, sources told Chiefs Digest. Steele, despite being a strong special teams performer, faced a battle to crack the running back group with Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith. Steele is expected to have other suitors in the event he clears waivers.
The 28-year-old Christiansen has been with the Chiefs for the past three seasons on both the active roster and practice squad, playing in 15 regular-season games plus three playoff contests. The versatile linebacker is expected to return to the club’s practice squad if he clears waivers.
Chiefs Waive LB Cam Jones
The Chiefs parted ways with another veteran defender in waiving linebacker Cam Jones, a source confirmed to Chiefs Digest. The move was first reported by Aaron Wilson. Jones joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent from Indiana, and played all 34 regular-season games and in four playoff games the past two seasons.
Jones is unlikely to clear waivers — he’s a favorite a Tennessee GM Mike Borgonzi, who left the Chiefs in the offseason for the Titans’ job. The departure of Jones clears the possibility for the Chiefs to keep six linebackers after the report from Jordan Schultz that Cooper McDonald will make the team. McDonald would make six, along with starters Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill and Leo Chenal plus backups Jack Cochrane and Jeffrey Bassa. Cochrane, who is dealing with a knee bone bruise, is expected to be healthy starting the season, a source informed Chiefs Digest.
Tuesday Morning Roster Moves Start
Tuesday started quickly with the Chiefs beginning their roster cuts, including a small surprise with the release of veteran Mike Edwards, as first reported by NFL Network. The 29-year-old Edwards had returned to the Chiefs on a one-year deal. He becomes a free agent immediately who can sign with any team. That means he could return to Chiefs on either the active roster or practice squad.
The Chiefs also waived cornerbacks Kevin Knowles and Melvin Smith, sources tell Chiefs Digest. Both had strong camps, and Knowles was a standout on Friday night against the Bears, including a highlight of blocking a PAT attempt. Both are strong practice squad candidates if they clear waivers.
Quick summary of Tuesday’s early moves:
- Released S Mike Edwards
- Waived CB Kevin Knowles
- Waived CB Melvin Smith, per Herbie Teope
- Waived OT Esa Pole, per Sam McDowell
- Waived G/C C.J. Hanson, per Herbie Teope
- Waived DE Nate Matlack, per Sam McDowell
- Wavied DT Coziah Izzard
- Released DT Marlon Tuipulotu, per NFL Network
Chiefs Waive WR Hal Pressley
The Chiefs are parting ways with wide receiver Hal Presley, a 23-year-old undrafted free agent from Baylor who initially signed with Buffalo following this year’s NFL Draft. Presley caught two passes for 20 yards on three targets during the preseason. He joined the club July 21. Presley primarily ran with the No. 3 offense during camp but showed steady improvement throughout the summer.
UDFA OG Dalton Cooper Waived
The Chiefs have waived offensive lineman Dalton Cooper, an undrafted free agent who played tackle at Oklahoma State. Kansas City converted him to guard during rookie minicamp, and Pro Football Focus graded him at 80.3 in pass blocking and 73.7 overall during three preseason games. He allowed just one pressure in 25 pass blocking snaps.
Chiefs Waive QB Bailey Zappe
The Chiefs have started their roster cuts by waiving quarterback Bailey Zappe, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Zappe was 15-of-27 passing with two interceptions and a 33.6 passer rating during the preseason.
Kansas City is also expected to waive quarterback Chris Oladokun, but Oladokun is the favorite to return on the practice squad.
Old Friend Alert
The Chiefs began their roster reduction with an addition, acquiring defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi from the New York Jets. If certain playing time conditions are met, the Chiefs will swap the 2027 sixth-round pick they received from San Francisco in the Skyy Moore trade in exchange for the Jets’ seventh-round selection.
The addition of Nnadi still likely leaves the Chiefs with nine defensive linemen: edges George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu and Ashton Gillotte along with tackles Chris Jones, Mike Pennel, Omarr Norman-Lott, Jerry Tillery and Nnadi. That would leave edge Malik Herring and tackle Marlon Tuipulotu on the outside. If the Chiefs opt to keep a 10th defensive lineman, it would likely come at the cost of keeping a sixth linebacker.
Nnadi was a third-round selection for the Chiefs in the 2018 NFL Draft and spent seven seasons with the club, playing in 115 games with 87 starts. He has 233 combined tackles in his career, along with five sacks.
He signed a one-year, $1.42 million free-agent deal with the Jets in the offseason. The Chiefs will be responsible for his $1.255 million base salary this season.
The Chiefs roster now stands at 91 players, including the international player exemption for offensive lineman Chukwuebuka Godrick.
