KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs have until 3 p.m. central time Tuesday to reduce their roster from 91 players down to 53 to start the 2023 season.
Defensive end Charles Omenihu will start the season on the suspended list, and he will not count toward the initial 53-player roster restriction.
If Chris Jones does not report by 3 p.m., the Chiefs can place him on the did not report list. If they do so, he will not count toward the roster limit. In addition, his base salary of $19.5 million will not count toward the salary cap.
Other notes to remember today:
- Players with more than four years of experience are released outright and become free agents later today when the transaction becomes official at 3 p.m. central time.
- Players with fewer than four years of experience must be placed on waivers, which means any team in the league can claim them. Waiver claims are based on the order of last year’s standing. The Chiefs are last in waiver-wire priority.
Here’s the live look at where the club’s roster stands at the moment. (updated to 6:20 p.m.)
Chiefs Current Roster (53)
Quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes and Blaine Gabbert
Running backs: Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Wide receivers: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Sky Moore, Justin Watson, Rashee Rice, Richie James and Justyn Ross
Tight ends: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Blake Bell
Offensive line: Donovan Smith, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Nick Allegretti, Prince Tega Wanogho, Wanya Morris, Lucas Niang and Mike Caliendo
Defensive line: George Karlaftis, Tershawn Wharton, Derrick Nnadi, Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Malik Herring, Keondre Coburn, BJ Thompson, Matt Dickerson and Neil Farrell
Linebackers: Willie Gay, Nick Bolton, Leo Chenal, Drue Tranquill, Jack Cochrane and Cam Jones
Cornerbacks: L’Jarius Sneed, Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Nic Jones
Safeties: Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner and Mike Edwards
Specialists: Harrison Butker, Tommy Townsend and James Winchester
Suspended List: Charles Omenihu
Injured Reserve: Jody Fortson and Nazeeh Johnson
Did not report: Chris Jones
Complete Transaction List
Here’s the full list of transactions made by the Chiefs on Tuesday:
Released
TE Kendall Blanton
S Deon Bush
C/G Austin Reiter
NT Danny Shelton
These players are veterans with more than four years experience and can become free agents immediately.
Waived
CB Dicaprio Bootle
CB Ekow Boye-Doe
QB Shane Buechele
TE Matt Bushman
LB Cole Christiansen
S Anthony Cook
RB Jerrion Ealy
WR Ty Fryfogle
TE Izaiah Gathings
OT Chukwuebuuka Godrick
CB Hahlef Hailassie
OT Anderson Hardy
DT Phil Hoskins
CB Lamar Jackson
DE Truman Jones
DE Joshua Kaindoh
G/T Darian Kinnard
CB Duron Lowe
S Isaiah Norman
QB Chris Oladokun
RB La’Mical Perine
WR Cornell Powell
RB Deneric Prince
WR Ty Scott
CB Reese Taylor
DT Chris Williams
DT Daniel Wise
These players have fewer than four years experience and must pass through the waiver process. Teams have until 11 a.m. central time, Wednesday, Aug. 30 to place claims on these players. Any players unclaimed become free agents at approximately noon Wednesday and can sign with any club’s active roster or practice squad.
Waived Injured
OG Jerome Carvin
LB Olakunle Fatukasi
WR Nikko Remigio
These players were waived with an injury designation. If they clear waivers they return to the Chiefs on injured reserve. They cannot be designated to return later this season.
Reserve/Did Not Report
DT Chris Jones
Jones does not count toward the active 53-player roster and his Paragraph 5 salary ($19.5 million) does not count toward the team’s salary cap.
Trades
Traded to Carolina Panthers: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette and a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick. (If Panthers pick is higher than Chiefs’ selection).
Acquired from Las Vegas Raiders: DT Neil Farrell in exchange for a sixth-round selection
Smith-Marsette Trade
The Chiefs started the day by sending wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a swap of conditional 2025 seventh-round selections. Smith-Marsette ranked second in the league with 195 yards receiving in the preseason and tied for the league lead with two touchdown catches. Getting any return for Smith-Marsette was a coup for Veach since the receiver was unlikely to crack the roster. If the conditions of the trade are met, the Chiefs will swap positions with Carolina in the 2025 seventh round, assuming the Panthers have a better selection than Kansas City.
DE Joshua Kaindoh Waived
The Chiefs have parted ways with defensive Joshua Kaindoh, a fourth-round selection for the Chiefs in 2021. Kaindoh still has an enormous amount of potential and athleticism, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him land on the practice squad. He was believed to be in competition with Malik Herring for perhaps the last spot at defensive end, so it will be interesting to see if his means Herring will make the active roster.
Chiefs Trade for Raiders DT Neil Farrell
The Chiefs roster count went up just before 1 p.m. CT with the the acquisition of defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. from the Raiders. The 2022 fourth-round pick from LSU played in nine games for Las Vegas last season collecting 12 total tackles with one for a loss and two quarterback hits. He started training camp on the non-football injury list due to a shoulder injury and passed his physical Aug. 9.
Kansas City’s defense struggled during training camp identifying a rotation with Chris Jones holding out. The addition of Farrell is a young prospect with upside under team control for the next three seasons.
Chiefs release S Deon Bush, DT Danny Shelton
Kansas City released two veteran defenders in Bush and Shelton, although it remains to be seen if that’s end of the trail for either player in Kansas City. Shelton signed a veteran minimum salary of $1.165 million for 2023, and he can re-sign on the team’s active roster or practice squad with no penalty. Bush’s one-year, $1.318 million deal included a $350,000 signing bonus that will count toward the Chiefs’ cap. He could still re-sign with the club, however, for a veteran minimum salary.
Also: Chiefs have waived safety Taylor Reese.
Chiefs Waive S Anthony Cook
The Chiefs are waiving undrafted rookie free agent Anthony Cook, a source tells Chiefs Digest. He’s a strong candidate to return on the practice squad Wednesday if he clears waivers.
The club also waived undrafted rookie free agent cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe.
LB Cole Christiansen Waived
Linebacker Cole Christiansen has been waived, a source tell Chiefs Digest, and he’s likely to return to the club’s practice squad if he clears waivers. Christiansen suffered a rib injury in Saturday’s preseason finale but it isn’t considered serious he will not be designated with an injury on the transaction report. That clears the way for him to re-sign with the club’s practice squad if he clears waivers. He spent most of last season on the team’s practice squad and was elevated for the game against Buffalo, playing 18 special teams snaps and picking up a tackle.
Blaine Gabbert Backup QB
The Chiefs have selected their backup quarterback, and it will be Blaine Gabbert. The club surprisingly waived both Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun on Tuesday. It’s a surprise move since the Chiefs had kept Buechele on the 53-player roster since November 2021 to project him from getting poached from another club. Both players must clear waivers, however, and either or both could still find their way back to the Kansas City practice squad.
The Chiefs also waived offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez.
