KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs defensive end Ethan Downs tore the ACL in his left knee during the first day of training camp, ending the season for the 23-year-old and sending a blow to the club’s depth at edge rusher.
The injury occurred during the final play of a 7-on-7 session during Saturday’s opening training camp practice. Downs, a former 3-4 outside linebacker, was filling in at that position, covering running back Emmitt Johnson in pass coverage during red-zone work. Downs and Johnson became twisted up in a collision at the goal line, sending Downs to the turf, clutching his left knee.
The 6-foot-4, 257-pound Downs joined the Chiefs practice squad on Aug. 27 last season and was promoted to the active roster on Dec. 24. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma, spending training camp with Jacksonville until the final roster cut.
He played for the Chiefs in the Week 18 season finale at Las Vegas, combining for five tackles and forcing a fumble in 11 defensive snaps and 22 special teams snaps.
Downs was expected to battle for a place on the 53-player roster as additional depth at edge rusher and a four-phase special teams player. During four seasons at Oklahoma, Downs played in 51 games with 110 combined tackles, including 32 for a loss, along with 12.5 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and five passes defended. He was a college teammate of Chiefs second-round draft pick R Mason Thomas, and the duo anchored opposite ends of the defensive line for the Sooners.
The injury to Downs is a blow for the Chiefs, which were counting on Downs to compete for a backup role behind George Karlaftis, Ashton Gillotte and Thomas. Other edge rushers in camp include former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah along with veteran Tyreke Smith and undrafted free agents VJ Anthony from Duke and Anthony Dunn out of Toledo.
