KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With Bryan Cook on injured reserve with an ankle sprain, the Chiefs signed veteran safety Deon Bush to the active roster Saturday while also elevating practice squad running back Deneric Prince and defensive tackle Mike Pennel for their Week 15 contest at New England.
To make room for Bush on the roster, the Chiefs waived linebacker Darius Harris.
Bush was elevated from the practice squad last week in place of Cook on the game-day roster. Although Bush played only three snaps on defense, he played 21 snaps on special teams. The eight-year veteran played a career-high 317 snaps on special teams last season for the Chiefs. He was waived by the club during the reduction to 53 players opening the season but immediately signed with the club’s practice squad. He’s played two games this season via the standard practice squad elevation.
This is the third straight game in which Prince has been elevated from the practice squad to provide depth for the Chiefs at running back with injuries to starter Isiah Pacheco and backup Jerick McKinnon. Pacheco is out again this week, making Clyde Edwards-Helaire the starter and Pacheco and Prince backing him up. Prince played five snaps on special teams last week but has yet to take a snap on offense. This is the third practice squad elevation for Prince, which means the team can only add him to the game-day roster in the future by signing him to the active roster or placing him on waivers.
This is the first elevation for Pennel, who signed with the Chiefs practice squad Oct. 24. This is the second stint with the Chiefs for the Topeka, Kansas native. He spent parts of two seasons with the Chiefs in 2019-20, playing in 22 regular-season games with one start while tallying 53 tackles and a sack. The Chiefs did not report any injuries along the defensive line this week, so it’s unclear what role if any the team has planned for Pennel this week. He is well-regarded for his run defense, and the Patriots have rushed for more than 100 yards in four of their last five games.
The Chiefs signed Harris off the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 31 in the wake of Nick Bolton landing on injured reserve. Harris played in five games for the club with all 71 of his snaps on special teams. The 27-year-old is a candidate to re-sign with the club’s practice if he clears waivers on Monday.
The club also officially ruled out wide receiver Justyn Ross. The team had until 3 p.m. central time Saturday to activate Ross to the 53-player roster coming off his six-game suspension. He remains on a roster exemption, however, through next week. The Chiefs must activate him before their Week 16 contest against the Raiders.
