KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs on Saturday waived defensive back Saalim Hakim and elevated wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr., from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster.
Aug. 18, 2015; St. Joseph, MO; Chiefs wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr., during training camp drills at Missouri Western State University. (Emily DeShazer/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
The transaction is a reversal of what occurred on Nov. 9 when the Chiefs waived Hammond in favor of elevating Hakim, who originally signed with the practice squad on Oct. 13.
The Chiefs then signed Hammond to the practice squad on Nov. 11 before Saturday’s transaction.
Saturday’s move comes as wide receiver/returner De’Anthony Thomas (concussion) has been declared out for Sunday’s contest against the Buffalo Bills.
The Chiefs have players to choose from for punt and kickoff returner duty, including wide receivers Albert Wilson, Chris Conley and Jeremy Maclin or running back Knile Davis.
But Hammond, who originally joined the Chiefs in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Florida, provides another option in both areas.
Hammond has experience returning punts and kickoffs, totaling four punt returns for 200 yards and two kickoff returns for 74 yards in 2014.
The 6-1, 184 Hammond spent the 2013 season on the practice squad before appearing in all 16 games with three starts in 2014, recording four catches for 45 yards. He was a healthy inactive in five of the Chiefs’ eight games this season and recorded no catches before being waived on Nov. 9.
The 5-11, 188-pound Hakim was active in Weeks 10-11, contributing mostly on special teams where he totaled 37 snaps during that span. Hakim saw action on four defensive snaps in Week 11.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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