Aug 17, 2014; Charlotte, NC; Then-Panthers wide receiver Jason Avant (81) during the second preseason game against the Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium. Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Wide receiver help arrived in the form of a player familiar with coach Andy Reid’s version of the West Coast offense.
The Chiefs on Friday officially announced the signing of free-agent wide receiver Jason Avant. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Kansas City placed wide receiver A.J. Jenkins on injured reserve in a corresponding move to make room on the 53-man roster for Avant. Jenkins finished the season appearing in nine games with two starts, totaling nine catches for 93 yards.
Avant, a nine-year pro, reunites with Reid, who previously selected Avant in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft while with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He offers immediate depth to a Chiefs wide receiver corps that had grown thin with injuries.
Starting split end receiver Donnie Avery (groin) has missed seven straight games since undergoing a sports hernia procedure in early October, while Jenkins missed two straight games prior to Friday’s transaction.
Junior Hemingway sustained a concussion during Thursday night’s contest against the Oakland Raiders.
Frankie Hammond Jr. has started the past two games, totaling one catches for 7 yards on three targets, opposite of Dwayne Bowe. The Chiefs also have rookie receiver Albert Wilson.
The 31-year-old Avant has appeared in 127 career games with 52 starts, recording 318 receptions for 3,847 yards and 13 touchdowns. He established a career-high 679 yards receiving on 52 catches in 2011.
Avant spent eight seasons in Philadelphia – seven with Reid (2006-12) – prior to the Eagles releasing Avant on March 4, 2014.
The 6-0, 210-pound wide receiver signed a free-agent contract with the Panthers on April 7 and appeared in 10 games with 10 starts, totaling 21 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown.
The Panthers waived Avant on Nov. 18, two days after he publicly questioned Carolina’s play calling during a 19-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Avant’s arrival in Kansas City reunites him with other members of the Chiefs coaching staff in addition to Reid.
Notables include assistant head coach/wide receivers coach David Culley, who served as Avant’s position coach in Philadelphia, and offensive coordinator Doug Pederson, who was an Eagles offensive quality control coach from 2009-10.
Avant will also reunite with head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder, who took to Twitter to express joy of the reunion:
Honored to be this guy’s ATC again. He will fit in nicely in KC! pic.twitter.com/oAlMvTy7Qx
— Rick Burkholder (@proatc) November 21, 2014
