News around the Kansas City Chiefs remained quiet on Friday, which means developments on Saturday will come in abundance as the Chiefs begin cutting their roster to 53 players. Here's a running updates on the cuts, trades and additions as they become reported.
Chiefs final waiver and release list
The last group of players let go by the Chiefs to reach the 53-man roster limit: QB Chase Litton, QB Kyle Shurmur, RB Marcus Marshall, WR Jamal Custis, WR Rashard Davis, WR Jalen Tolliver, TE Manasseh Garner, OL Jeff Allen, OL Zack Golditch, OL Pace Murphy, OL Chidi Okeke, DE Hunter Dimick, DE Rob McCray, LB Raymond Davison, LB D'Juan Hines, S Harold Jones-Quartey, S Andrew Soroh and P Jack Fox.
Injured reserved: DE Breeland Speaks and WR Gehrig Dieter. They cannot return in the 2018 season.
Waived/injured: WR Felton Davis and CB Michael Hunter. They will return to the club on injured reserve if they clear waivers.
Non-football injury list: LB Darius Harris
Suspended list: CB Morris Claiborne and WR De'Anthony Thomas
Chiefs waive rookie OL Dino Boyd
The rookie from Cincinnati was waived ahead of the deadline, a source told Chiefs Digest. Boyd worked his way up to playing left tackle with the No. 2 offense by the end of the preseason, a strong rise for a rookie free agent.
RB Carlos Hyde to Houston for OL Martinas Rankin
This deal makes perfect sense for both clubs. Hyde appeared the odd man out in Kansas City, and the Texans desperately need a veteran back with Lamar Miller out for the season. The Chiefs also wanted additional depth at offensive line, and the 2018 third-round pick Rankin provides just that.
Chiefs waive WR Jody Fortson
Fortson has great size at 6-6, 230, and came on strong throughout preseason. Strong practice squad candidate.
Joey Ivie wins position battle vs. Justin Hamilton
In one of the most competitive position battles in camp, Joe Ivie has won the battle for backup position at defensive tackle over Justin Hamilton, a source tells Chiefs Digest. A tough decision clearly, both players played extremely well during camp and the preseason.
Chiefs waiving OL Kahlil McKenzie
The Chiefs kept McKenzie on the active roster as a project last season, but don't seem to have room for him as a project right now. Hard to see another team not claiming him on waivers as a project of their own, but more development should continue to help him.
CB D'Montre Wade, OL Jimmy Murray waived
Sources tell Chiefs Digest the club will waive Wade and Murray, both of him joined the club last season as undrafted free agents. Wade spent most of training camp with the No. 2 defense and got reps with the ones when Bashaud Breeland was out with an injury. Murray started last season on the practice squad before moving to the active roster when Jordan Devey went down with an injury.
Chiefs waive CB Herb Miller
Miller was a mainstay with the No. 2 defense for most of training camp and the preseason. He's a definite candidate to return to the practice squad. That leaves D'Montre Wade as the likely candidate if the Chiefs keep a fifth cornerback on the initial 53-man roster.
DT Cavon Walker waived
Our Matt Derrick can confirmthe report from Herbie Teopethat the Chiefs have waived Walker. Walker tallied five tackles and a quarterback sack Thursday against a Green Bay, with a total of three tackles for a loss.
Chiefs waive TE Nick Keizer
One of the surprises among the early cuts is Keizer, per source. Keizer turned in a strong camp, and he closed out the preseason with five catches for 33 yards and a touchdown against the Packers. A definite practice squad addition, if he clears waivers.
WR Cody Thompson waived
The Chiefs waived Thompson, per Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports. Thompson turned in a solid preseason, catching 12 balls for 108 yards. He's a definite practice squad candidate. The Chiefs never planned to keep more than six receivers, and the return of De'Anthony Thomas and progression of Byron Pringle made Thompson the guy on the bubble.
Chiefs waive CB Dakari Monroe
Monroe played sparingly during the preseason, picking up a tackles in six defensive snaps against Green Bay Thursday. The rookie from San Jose State showed some upside during training camp.
LeSean McCoy an option in KC?
Buffalo released the 31-year-old McCoy on Saturday, and his relationship with both Andy Reid and Brett Veach begs the question if he might fit in the KC backfield. Of note: Reid hasn't had a running back over age 30 receive a carry within his offense since Dorsey Levens at age 34 in 2004. The NFL was a different game back then, and it's a young man's position now. Also of note: McCoy gained an anemic 3.2 yards per carry last season.
Chiefs reportedly trading CB Mark Fields
Fields had a chance to nail down a starting position in Thursday night's preseason finale against Green Bay, starting on the left side opposite Morris Claiborne. But Fields drew four flags, three of which were accepted for a total of 47 yards, and also missed a couple of tackles. The Vikings pursued Fields as a college free agent, which makes them a natural suitor for Fields. Courtney Cronin reports the Chiefs received a 2021 seventh-round selection for Fields.
Roster rules for roster construction
As the Chiefs build their initial 53-player roster — and initial is definitely what it is — there are a couple of rule to know that makes roster construction easier to understand.
- Injured players: If the Chiefs want to consider a player for return later in the season, he must first make the 53-man roster. WR Marcus Kemp, who already went to injured reserve, cannot return this season. If the Chiefs want the option to bring back DE Breeland Speaks or QB Chad Henne from injured reserve, they must make the 53-man roster on Saturday.
- Suspended players: The Chiefs know they will be without CB Morris Claiborne for the first four weeks of the season, and he can got to the suspended list directly without first making the 53-man roster.
- Nonfootball injury list: The Chiefs have two players on the NFI list, and both are handed differently. DE Tim Ward is on the reserve version of the list, and doesn't count against the 90-man roster. He will not play this season. LB Darius Harris is on the active version, and does count on the 90-man roster list. The Chiefs have several options, but they can move him to either the NFI reserve list of the physically unable to perform list. The expect him to play this season, but those designations mean he would miss at least the first eight weeks of the season with an option to begin practicing in Week 6.
With Claiborne and Harris, that means the Chiefs essentially have 88 players from which they must release, waive or trade 35 more to get to 53 by 3 p.m. central time Saturday.
