KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs have set their initial 53-player roster for the 2025 season, and it looks a bit different than conventional wisdom presumed heading into Tuesday.
The Chiefs released veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel, placed cornerback Nazeeh Johnson and tight end Jake Briningstool on injured to reserve, and kept eight wide receivers on the initial roster.
The club also released veteran tight end Robert Tonyan, making him a free agent. However, the club expects to re-sign Tonyan as early as Wednesday to the practice squad if not the 53-player roster as soon as a space is available.
Wide receiver Jalen Royals, who sat out practice Tuesday due to knee tendonitis, is not expected to land on injured reserve. The club still hopes Royals will be available next week when the team faces the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil.
In addition to Pennel and Tonyan, the Chiefs also released veteran safety Mike Edwards, linebacker Cole Christiansen and defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu. It’s anticipated the club will sign Christiansen to the practice squad. It’s unclear if Pennel, Tuipulotu or Edwards will return on the practice squad.
The Chiefs also placed on waiverrs 29 players with less than four years experience. that group includes 2024 sixth-round offenive lineman C.J. Hanson, International Pathway Program offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, third-year linebacker Cam Jones, quarterback Chris Oladokun, running back Carson Steele, and quarterback Bailey Zappe. The complete list of players waived is on the Chiefs Digest roster tracker.
Here’s the Chiefs’ initial 53-player roster and reserve lists:
Quarterbacks (2)
Patrick Mahomes
Gardner Minshew
Running Backs (4)
Isiah Pacheco
Kareem Hunt
Elijah Mitchell
Brashard Smith
Wide Receivers (8)
Rashee Rice
Xavier Worthy
Hollywood Brown
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Jalen Royals
Tyquan Thornton
Nikkio Remigio
Jason Brownlee
Tight Ends (3)
Travis Kelce
Noah Gray
Jared Wiley
Offensive Linemen (9)
Josh Simmons
Kingsley Suamataia
Creed Humphrey
Trey Smith
Jawaan Taylor
Jaylon Moore
Mike Caliendo
Hunter Nourzad
Wanya Morris
Defensive Linemen (9)
Mike Danna
Omarr Norman-Lott
George Karlaftis
Charles Omenihu
Malik Herring
Chris Jones
Ashton Gillotte
Jerry Tillery
Derrick Nnadi
Linebackers (6)
Drue Tranquill
Jeffrey Bassa
Nick Bolton
Jack Cochrane
Leo Chenal
Cooper McDonald
Cornerbacks (5)
Trent McDuffie
Jaylen Watson
Kristian Fulton
Nohl Williams
Joshua Williams
Safeties (4)
Bryan Cook
Chamarri Conner
Jaden Hicks
Chris Roland-Wallace
Specialists (3)
Harrison Butker
Matt Araiza
James Winchester
Injured Reserve/Designated to Return
CB Nazeeh Johnson
TE Jake Briningstool
Injured Reserve/End of Season
LB Brandon George
S Deon Bush
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
DE Janarius Robinson
Non-Football Illness List
OT Ethan Driskell
