KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A pair of defensive backs, one an eight-year veteran and the other a prospect in May’s NFL Draft, appeared on the Chiefs’ radar Tuesday.
Sep 9, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Houston Texans safety Danieal Manning (38) sacks San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Safety Danieal Manning, whom the Houston Texans released Monday, is currently in Cincinnati for a free-agent visit with the Bengals. But barring a signing, he told SiriusXM NFL Radio during an on-air guest appearance his next scheduled visit is with the Chiefs on Thursday.
Provided Manning makes it out of Cincinnati, a potential signing in Kansas City would address depth at safety and potentially provide an option on special teams.
While the Chiefs have Sanders Commings and Husain Abdullah set to compete at free safety, Manning would offer a veteran presence at the position and offer insurance behind starting strong safety Eric Berry.
As for special teams, Manning has ties to Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub.
Manning hasn’t been heavily involved on special teams the past three seasons with the Houston Texans, a period where he recorded 15 returns for 392 yards, but he served as a kick returner for Toub while with the Chicago Bears.
His best season as a returner came in 2008 when he recorded 1,070 yards and a touchdown on 36 returns. For his career, Manning has 116 returns for 3,103 yards and a touchdown.
The Chiefs lost last year’s punt returner Dexter McCluster and returner Quintin Demps to free agency.
Manning, 31, entered the league in 2006 out of Abilene Christian as a second-round draft pick (42nd overall) of the Bears where he spent five seasons before joining the Texans in 2011. He missed 10 games last season with a fractured leg.
Manning has appeared in 112 games with 91 starts in his career and has 503 tackles (402 solo), 11 interceptions and 39 passes defensed.
Meanwhile, Liberty cornerback Walt Aikens visited the Chiefs training facility Tuesday for a predraft visit.
The Illinois transfer is listed at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds and projects as a late-round selection during May’s draft, according to NFLDraftScout.com and CBSSports.com.
Aikens earlier in the day tweeted a photo of himself standing in the Chiefs locker room, but the tweet and photo have since been deleted from his Twitter page.
Notes: The Chiefs tried out offensive tackle Jason Fox, Howard Balzer of USA TODAY Sports Weekly reports … Fox recently played for the Detroit Lions … Top-ranked Canadian offensive tackle Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is scheduled for a visit with the Chiefs, according to ArrowheadPride.com.
