RSS Chiefs Team Notes

[Kansas City Chiefs]

NFL suspends Chiefs’ Rashee Rice for 6 games to open 2025 season

According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (and many others), the Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice will serve a six-game suspension to begin the NFL season.

#Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is accepting and will serve a six-game suspension to start the 2025 regular season, per sources.

The NFL and NFLPA are working to finalize the settlement, which will end Rice’s disciplinary limbo and make him eligible to return Week 7 vs. Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/uPcZoCy0OV

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 27, 2025

The suspension is for a personal conduct violation stemming from a street racing crash in Dallas during March of 2024.

The league made it official with a press release on Wednesday afternoon.

The Rashee Rice suspension is now official in a press release by the NFL. #Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/JIGgENgMXf

— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) August 27, 2025

There had been a great deal of speculation about the length of Rice’s potential suspension. Some reports indicated the league wanted it to be 10 games or more. Others said the league initially wanted an eight-game suspension.

The last hard information was that there would be a hearing on September 30 to determine its length. But then it became clear that the league and the NFL Players’ Association (NFLPA) were negotiating — and if an agreement could be reached, no hearing would take place.

Rice recently pleaded guilty to two charges in exchange for a five-year probation and a 30-day jail sentence. Now the league has its punishment in place. Rice will be eligible to play in the Week 7 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...pends-rashee-rice-6-games-to-open-2025-season

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs roster news tracker: signings, cuts, waiver claims, practice squad and more

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs reduced their 2025 roster to 53 players. Over the next few days, the Chiefs will assemble their 2025 practice squad while churning their active roster.

The waiver wire​

From Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, NFL teams will be burning the midnight oil, evaluating more than 1,000 players who were cut from league rosters.

Some — like just-released Chiefs Mike Pennel and Robert Tonyan — are free agents who can be signed right away. Others — such as Kansas City’s just-waived Chris Oladokun and Esa Pole — can be claimed by other teams on waivers.

If a claim is successful — that is, if there is not a competing claim from a team earlier in the waiver order — the team assumes the player’s existing contract. Claimed players must be added to the new team’s 53-man active roster — meaning that a team must be prepared to cut someone else to make room for the new player.

The Chiefs — as losers of Super Bowl LIX — are 31st in the waiver order.

Waiver claims can be submitted until 11 a.m. Arrowhead Time on Wednesday. Players who go unclaimed by that time “clear” waivers. They become free agents who can be signed to any team’s active roster or practice squad.

Reserve/Injured return eligibility​

Each team will have until 3 p.m. Arrowhead Time on Wednesday to name players currently on its Reserve/Injured list who will be eligible for designations to return.

Each team may do this for only two players — and for each one named as eligible, the number of return designations the team may make in the season (eight for most, but 10 for teams that make it to the postseason) is reduced by one — even if that player is never designated for return.

So if teams have more than two players they might want to return from IR, they will have to be on the 53-man roster through Wednesday before they are placed on that list. This way, they will automatically be eligible for return designations.

This may be why the Chiefs released veterans like Pennel and Tonyan — so they could put injured players like Jalen Royals or Omarr Norman-Lott on Reserve/Injured for the first four games of the season, replacing them with the veteran players. Teams and veterans sometimes have an understanding: the player will be re-signed immediately after the injured player goes on IR.

Players signed to the active roster​

• None so far

Waiver claims by Chiefs​

• None

Players cut from the active roster​

• None so far

Players placed on Reserve/Injured​

• None so far

Trades​

• None so far

Former Chiefs headed elsewhere​

• T Esa Pole claimed on waivers by the Jets
• LB Cam Jones claimed on waivers by the Jets
• QB Bailey Zappe signed to Browns practice squad

Players signed to practice squad​

• S Mike Edwards
• T Chukwuebuka Godrick
• QB Chris Oladokun
• RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• FB Carson Steele
• DT Brodric Martin
• DT Coziah Izzard
• CB Kevin Knowles II
• WR Hal Presley
• TE Robert Tonyan
• LB Cole Christiansen
• CB Melvin Smith
• DT Marlon Tuipulotu
• WR Jimmy Holiday
• TE Tre Watson
• OG C.J. Hanson

Updates​

Wednesday, August 27

• 3:05 p.m. The Browns sign former Kansas City quarterback Bailey Zappe to their practice squad, per report.
• 2:54 p.m. Through team reporter Matt McMullen, the Chiefs confirm all reported practice squad signings except Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Brodric Martin. 14 players are on the official practice squad roster. Per Matt Derrick, Edwards-Helaire’s signing wasn’t done in time for Wednesday’s reporting deadline.
• 2:32 p.m. Report: Tight end Robert Tonyan will be activated to the roster when Rashee Rice is placed on the commissioner’s Exempt list, which is expected on Wednesday or Thursday.
• 1:43 p.m. Linebacker Cole Christiansen, cornerback Melvin Smith, defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday, tight end Tre Watson and guard C.J. Hanson were all observed at practice, suggesting they have been signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad, per report.
• 1:37 p.m. Released tight end Robert Tonyan appeared at Kansas City’s Wednesday practice, suggesting he has been signed to the practice squad, per report.
• 1:09 p.m. Kansas City signs cornerback Kevin Knowles II to practice squad, per report.
• 12:49 p.m. The Chiefs sign wide receiver Hal Presley to its practice squad, per report.
• 12:44 p.m. Kansas City signs defensive tackle Coziah Izzard to practice squad, per report.
• 12:42 p.m. Former Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin signed to practice squad, per report.
• 12:43 p.m. Chiefs sign quarterback Chris Oladokun, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and fullback Carson Steele to practice squad, per report.
• 12:26 p.m. The Chiefs sign veteran safety Mike Edwards to the practice squad, per report.
• 12:14 p.m. Kansas City signs tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick to its practice squad, per report. He will have a roster exemption as an International Pathway Program player, allowing the Chiefs to have 17 practice-squad players.
• 11:27 a.m. The Chiefs claim no players on waivers, per league report.
• 11:27 a.m. The Jets claim former Chiefs T Esa Pole and LB Cam Jones on waivers, per league report.

Tuesday, August 26

• 6:56 p.m. Sam McDowell reports Chiefs plan to re-sign tight end Robert Tonyan.
• 11:57 a.m. Matt Derrick reports Kansas City expects to be able to sign released LB Cole Christiansen to its practice squad.
• 10:44 a.m. Matt Derrick reports Chiefs hope to sign waived offensive lineman Chukwuebuka Godrick as 17th player on practice squad.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...gs-cuts-waiver-claims-practice-squad-and-more

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

3 players miss Chiefs’ Wednesday practice

Just as they did on Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs listed three players who would miss Wednesday’s practice session at the team practice facility on the grounds of the Truman Sports Complex: linebacker Jack Cochrane (knee), defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (ankle) and wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee).

Cochrane continues to recover from the knee injury he sustained during Kansas City’s second preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. That’s the same matchup in which Norman-Lott injured his ankle.

Royals is still battling tendonitis in his knee. He was present on Wednesday, but was without a helmet and did not participate in drills. There had been concern that this injury might keep him out of the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers — but on Wednesday, Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest reported that barring a setback, Royals should be ready to play in Brazil.

Also missing: wide receiver Rashee Rice, whose NFL suspension was made official on Wednesday. According to the league’s press release, it was to begin immediately. We expect that Wednesday’s official transactions report will show he is on the commissioner’s Exempt list.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...red-players-miss-wednesday-practice-august-27

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Don’t be surprised if the Chiefs trade for a running back

The latest​

Ranking the 10 Biggest Moments in Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift’s Love Story | SI

3. Swift’s first Chiefs game at Arrowhead

The collective gasp when we saw Swift in the Chiefs suite during a September home game against the Bears. That’s it. That’s the blurb. Nothing else needs to be said.

Grading the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift Instagram Engagement Reveal | Bleacher Report

The IG Caption: C

This is where the proposal post stumbles. Swift and Kelce opted for “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” a line that’s maybe a bit too neat. Sure, it went memetic—Twitter lit up with memes calling it “America’s royal wedding” and brands leaned in with pun-heavy responses.

But for two cultural architects who traffic in Easter eggs and lyric-level nuance, the caption felt like a soft mic drop. But TBH, it’s not surprising Tay Tay opted for comfy and relatable. She’s always been a “poet” akin to Rupi Kaur vs. Ocean Vuong. Not awful. Just not the high-voltage punch screen that the internet was primed for.

2025 NFL bold predictions: Potential surprises for 32 teams | ESPN

Don’t be surprised if … the Chiefs trade for a running back.

What I’m hearing: Isiah Pacheco is healthy and ready to resume the lead back role the team planned for him before his early-season broken right leg last year, but the room is thin behind him. Veteran Kareem Hunt just turned 30, and the Chiefs might use rookie Brashard Smith in a more nontraditional role that takes advantage of his receiving skills as he develops. The Chiefs could use a third-down back with some pass protection ability and will be looking at trade and waiver possibilities as rosters get tinkered with ahead of Week

Rice suspension could lead to dire consequences for Chiefs | Yardbarker

Rice has quickly become one of Patrick Mahomes’ go-to targets in Kansas City’s high-powered offense, making his absence a significant blow as the Chiefs aim to defend their AFC title. With Rice sidelined until Week 7, the Chiefs will look to second-year receiver Xavier Worthy and veteran tight end Travis Kelce—who recently announced his engagement to Taylor Swift—to help shoulder the offensive load.

Kansas City appeared to anticipate a suspension, keeping an unusually large group of eight wide receivers on their final 53-man roster.

The timing couldn’t be more critical. For the first time in recent memory, the AFC West appears wide open. With the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers all boasting upgrades on the field and in the front office, the margin for error has narrowed dramatically.

2026 NFL mock draft: Preseason edition includes 5 QBs taken in first round, including a big surprise at No. 1 | CBS Sports

Round 1 – Pick 29
Kenyon Sadiq TE
Oregon • Jr • 6’3″ / 245 lbs
It seems like every year we want to give the Chiefs their next version of Travis Kelce, but this year finally feels like the one it will happen. Kenyon Sadiq wasn’t even a starter last year behind Terrance Ferguson, but you already saw the makings of an elite YAC weapon.

Around the NFL​

Jaguars’ Hunter ‘rolling full speed,’ OK for Week 1, GM says | ESPN

Hunter has been dealing with an upper-body injury since Aug. 14. He did not play in the final two preseason games and has only participated in the individual portions of practice. But he practiced Wednesday.

“He’s on the grass today and rolling full speed,” Gladstone said.

Gladstone also said that the team’s expectations for Hunter playing both ways against the Panthers has not changed despite Hunter not practicing fully for four practices and sitting out the final preseason game with the rest of the starters.

“There hasn’t been any shift on that front,” Gladstone said. “We expect him to be who we know him to be, and that’s somebody who impacts both sides of the football.

“Can’t wait to see that on Sundays. And one Monday night.”

NFL news: Why the Ravens paid Kyle Hamilton | SB Nation

They are also examples of why the Ravens just made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history. Hamilton and Baltimore agreed on a four-year, $100.4 million deal that features $82 million guaranteed. This eclipses the previous mark of $45 million guaranteed for a safety, according to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter.

“I think the deal speaks to how we feel about Kyle — highest paid safety in the NFL,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said to the media on Wednesday. “That’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. We’ve had a few players over the years become the highest paid at their position, and I think when you’re the highest paid, that’s an important distinction.

“And I think Kyle’s proven he’s going to carry that very well, and we expect him to continue to be an impact player on our defense for years to come.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

NFL waiver wire explained: Chiefs players subject to the process

What does it mean when an NFL player is waived?

Not all players who have been cut from a roster become free agents who may sign with another team.

Any player with fewer than four accrued seasons must be waived. Accrued seasons are earned when a player spends at least six games on a team’s active roster or one of its reserve lists (injured, PUP or NFI) in a given season. Once a player is waived, any team may claim them, assuming their current NFL contract. Teams that are lower on the waiver wire (listed below) have precedence in these claims.

If a player with at least four accrued seasons is cut, they are released. They immediately become free agents who can sign with any team.

What is the NFL waiver order right now?

The NFL waiver order during the preseason (and the first three weeks of the regular season) mirrors the 2025 NFL Draft order. But after the fourth game of the season, it resets to the current NFL standings. So right now, the Titans have first crack at every player on waivers.

Social media to make you think​

.@Chiefs @treysmith somedays watching the chiefs RG is even better than a snow cone on a summer hot day. #ChiefsKingdom #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/BqYqFDBtFY

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 26, 2025

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...prised-if-the-chiefs-trade-for-a-running-back

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Noah Gray: Chiefs will trust coaches to weather Rashee Rice suspension

With roster cuts (mostly) in the rear view mirror, the Kansas City Chiefs can now turn their attention to 2025’s season opener, when they will face the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, September 5 in Saõ Paulo, Brazil.

“We’re just looking forward to Week 1 against the Chargers now,” tight end Noah Gray told reporters on Wednesday. “[We have] great guys all across the team and the coaching staff, and it’s going to be really exciting to just really attack practice. [We’re] really looking forward to a really great Chargers team that we get to play down in Brazil.”

Those guys include what may be the fastest wide receiver corps Gray has lined up with since arriving in Kansas City during the 2021 NFL Draft. The fifth-year pro is excited to see the combined speed of wideouts Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and Tyquan Thornton.

“You know those guys are fast,” said Gray. “They can run downfield and make big plays down the field, but they’re also great in the slot. You can move those guys around, so it’s just really cool to see guys like that — especially when we’ve got all of them on the field at one time to come together [and] to run certain concepts together.

“It’s a lot of fun; it’s been a lot of fun for me. It helps me get open when guys are flying around, taking the top off the defense and doing their jobs extremely well… We’re just really looking forward to building on that chemistry.”

But building that chemistry may have to wait a little while, because the Kansas City offense was dealt a blow on Wednesday. After a year and a half of speculation, the league’s discipline for wide receiver Rashee Rice finally came down. During the six games that Rice will miss, Gray is putting his trust in head coach Andy Reid and his staff.

“We’re just going to go out there,” the tight end declared, “[and] trust what the coaches put on our plates and whatever game plan that we have — regardless of who’s in there. I’m extremely confident in all of the guys, and it’s going to be fun.”

When Gray and his teammates take the field on foreign soil, the stakes will be higher than they were in the preseason slate Kansas City just finished. Gray knows the eyes of the football world will be on this showcase matchup — and believes the Chiefs have been preparing for this moment since getting their offseason program underway in April.

“The regular season is different,” he explained, “but I think we’re just going to try to build off of everything that we started back when we reported in the spring for OTAs — and just kind of keep building on that.”

That’s the whole point: to keep finding ways to be better.

“There’s always room for improvement out of practice,” continued Gray, “and every week is going to present a new challenge — especially in the regular season.”

Even if it’s all happening in an entirely new environment.

“I’ve never been to Brazil before,” admitted the tight end. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ust-coaches-to-weather-rashee-rice-suspension

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Listen as John Dixon and Stephen Serda discuss a big week of Chiefs news

On Thursday morning, Arrowhead Pride executive editor John Dixon and podcast producer Stephen Serda got together to discuss a week that was full of Kansas City Chiefs news. Here’s what they covered:

• 00:00 Breaking news in John’s e-mail (OK… this was a joke)
• 01:25 Chiefs lose to Bears in preseason finale
• 03:45 Chiefs trade for defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi
• 07:20 Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement announcement
• 10:55 Rashee Rice’s NFL suspension finalized
• 15:45 Chiefs keep eight wide recxeivers in final 53
• 17:25 Steve has a rant about the ridiculous delays in announcing 53-man rosters
• 19:15 Rookie linebacker Copper McDonald makes the final 53
• 21:05 Veterans Mike Edwards, Robert Tonyan and Mike Pennel released in final cutdown
• 25:20 Carson Steele waived
• 28:00 Former Chiefs Esa Pole, Cam Jones and Bailey Zappe on new teams
• 34:45 Nazeeh Johnson (and others) go on Reserve/Injured
• 38:00 New practice squad signings

It’s absolutely free on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, Megaphone or wherever you get your podcasts.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ephen-serda-discuss-a-big-week-of-chiefs-news

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Brett Veach gives clarity on wide receivers, release of Mike Pennel

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach met with a group of local reporters on Thursday morning, covering a variety of topics related to this week’s Chiefs news.

While it surprised many observers that Kansas City retained eight wide receivers when it reduced its roster to 53 players on Tuesday, those who suspected that it was because the team already knew wideout Rashee Rice was going to miss the season’s first six games were right.

“It wasn’t a surprise,” said Veach, per the Kansas City Star. “It was communicated to us, and we were certainly made aware a few days prior to cut-down day that this was a better than a 50% shot that this would get resolved before the kickstart of the season.”

Without Rice — who is clearly the team’s top wideout — there will be more pressure on other wide receivers to produce during the opening weeks of the season. Veach believes rookie wideout Jalen Royals has a similar skill set, but he’s presently battling tendonitis. Still, Veach thinks there’s another wideout who can pitch in — and as long as veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster is on the team, Veach isn’t worried.

“I think both of those guys have a similar skill set,” said Veach. “Obviously JuJu’s been here for a while, and JuJu — to his credit — I think he looked better with this camp than he did the last camp he was here. He’s really taking care of his body, so that’s a good thing because we’re getting JuJu fresh and at the beginning of the season.”

Veach also addressed the situation with 34-year-old defensive tackle Mike Pennel — a fan favorite who was released at final cutdown. There was immediate speculation that Pennel would be brought back after another player had been placed on the Reserve/Injured list — a common tactic among GMs working to get their rosters to 53 men — but Veach said there is more to the story than that.

“I think with every position group, we’re trying to get better, and we’re trying to add competition,” he said, per Chiefs Digest. “I think that was one position group we were trying to continually get deeper, get younger, get more athletic.”

Veach said that the team had entered into negotiations with the Cleveland Browns to acquire defensive tackle Jowon Briggs. But the Browns instead accepted the New York Jets’ offer for Briggs — and then the Chiefs traded with the Jets to re-acquire defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi. That led to Pennel’s release.

“I think when it came to Derrick, [it was] probably [a] similar level of play [to] what we’ve seen [from Pennel] — but both those guys have, over the years, played and helped us out in games,” explained Veach. “But I do think you take in [the] consideration [of] just the length of the season.”

That ultimately tipped the scales away from Pennel — who is five years older than Nnadi.

“If you had to do a slight edge,” noted Veach. “[he] was just, you know, four or five years younger — and a guy that’s played a lot of reps. But look, I mean, we’re still active at that position.”

Veach is correct. The team has signed defensive tackles Marlon Tuipulotu and Coziah Izzard — both cut on Tuesday — to the practice squad, along with former Bears defensive tackle Zacch Pickens. The team is also reported to be on the verge of signing former Detroit Lions’ defensive tackle Brodric Martin. All of them are in addition to second-round rookie Omarr Norman-Lott, who continues to work through an ankle injury he sustained in the second exhibition game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Would the team consider bringing Pennel back for another stint with the team?

“I think we’d always be open to that for sure,” said Veach. “Mike’s a guy that, I mean, he’s a special human being — and we love Mike. He’s one of those guys that I feel every time we’ve gotten him back in short spurts, it’s been the best he has.

“I mean, even at his age, he’s a juice guy [and] he’s an energy guy. We love him, so [we’re] certainly keeping that door open as well. I think all options are open for us at that position.”

For now, however, Pennel is not in the team’s plans.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...rity-on-wide-receivers-release-of-mike-pennel

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Derrick Nnadi on return to Chiefs: ‘Everyone’s just happy to see me back’

The Kansas City Chiefs brought back a familiar face this week, trading with the New York Jets to re-acquire defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi. It was something the veteran lineman didn’t see coming.

“Honestly, it was a little bit of a surprise,” Nnadi told reporters on Wednesday. “I was getting my body right for the next day at work — and then the GM called me and said, ‘Hey, just want to let you know, we traded you back to KC.’”

Nnadi had signed with the Jets in March after seven seasons in Kansas City. While in New York, he recorded five total tackles during three preseason games before being dealt back to the team that drafted him in 2018.

During the Jets’ training camp, Nnadi noticed the contrast with what he experienced at Chiefs’ camps in St. Joseph.

“It was completely different,” Nnadi explained. “It hit me when I got there — like, ‘I’m not in St. Joe any more.‘ Part of me missed being in the dorms, being out and away from it all, seeing that nice little dude on the field. It’s a different change of pace. It was definitely different [with the Jets] — but every team does things differently.”

However, what he missed most wasn’t the dorms or the drills. It was the bonds he built over years in Kansas City’s locker room.

“[I missed] the camaraderie with my teammates,” said Nnadi. “When I first got to the [Jets], I always thought like, ‘Man, I miss my D-line room. I miss the fellas. I miss the guys in the locker room.’”

The welcome back has been warm — especially from fellow defensive lineman Chris Jones, who was the first one to call Nnadi once the trade was announced. That set the tone for the rest of the team.

“It does mean a lot having my guys be so happy to see me from yesterday and today and the day before,” Nnadi said, clearly gratified. “A lot of guys have been happy to see me back: players, coaches and everybody. Even the janitorial crew — like my dog Pistol Pete? Everyone’s just happy to see me back.”

Nnadi has learned, however, that NFL business can move fast. What looked like a new beginning on another team has come full circle, landing him right back in Kansas City. But regardless of how he got here, Nnadi knows all that matters now is putting in the work — and showing he belongs on the team’s roster once again.

The 29-year-old knows what he brings to the Chiefs’ defensive line. He played in 115 games with Chiefs, collecting 222 tackles and 5.0 sacks. Last season, he suited up for all 17 games, finishing with 11 tackles while adding four more in the playoffs.

“Getting traded — of all things — is part of the business,” Nnadi said. “But at the same time, I’ve got to focus on my business. For me, I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder because I was gone and I came back. They’re bringing me back for a reason — so in my mind, I’ve just got to stay focused on what I’ve got to do.

“In the words of a great speaker, ‘Be where your feet are.’”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...to-chiefs-everyones-just-happy-to-see-me-back

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs make 9 moves on Thursday; sign TE Robert Tonyan to 53-man roster

One of the stars of the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp and preseason was veteran tight end Robert Tonyan. Six months ago, it was uncertain that Tonyan would be able to extend his career for an eighth season. He responded by dominating the Chiefs’ preseason with eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown over three games.

Shockingly, the Chiefs released Tonyan on Tuesday as they reduced their roster from 90 to 53 players. But there were immediate rumors he would soon return to the team.

Tonyan was signed to Kansas City’s practice squad on Wednesday, but that day’s biggest Chiefs news would create his path back to the active roster. With wide receiver Rashee Rice accepting a six-game suspension to start the year, a roster spot opened. Per Thursday’s NFL transactions report, that opening will go to Tonyan, who was officially activated to the roster from the practice squad.

Because of Tonyan’s veteran status, he did not need to pass through waivers after being cut. This may have helped the Chiefs retain wide receivers like Jason Brownlee and Nikko Remigio as they planned for Rice’s suspension.

Also on Thursday, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach discussed wanting to become younger at the defensive tackle position. Work on that goal continued later that day as the team officially signed defensive tackles Zacch Pickens and Broderick Martin to the practice squad. Pickens and Martin were third-round selections of the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, respectively, in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Also signed to the practice squad on Thursday were defensive ends Tyreke Smith and Ethan Downs, plus safety Jammie Robinson. Smith was a 2022 fifth-round draft selection of the Seattle Seahawks, while Robinson joined the Carolina Panthers in the same round a year later. Downs signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in April as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma.

The Chiefs also made the widely reported return of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire official. The team’s first-round selection from 2020 has also been added to the practice squad.

Wide receiver Hal Presley and defensive tackle Coziah Izzard signed with Kansas City’s practice squad on Wednesday after being cut from the team on Tuesday and clearing waivers. Presley and Izzard’s practice squad contracts were terminated on Thursday to make room for Kansas City’s newest additions.

The team now has a practice squad roster of 17 men. Practice squad offensive lineman Chukwuebuka Godrick has a roster exemption, allowing Kansas City to have one extra player on the 16-man taxi squad.

You can learn more about all members of the Chiefs’ practice squad here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ursday-sign-te-robert-tonyan-to-53-man-roster

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Meet the Chiefs’ initial practice squad for 2025

As they prepare to open their season against the Los Angeles Chargers next Friday, September 5 in Saõ Paulo, Brazil, the Kansas City Chiefs have announced the players who have been signed to their initial practice squad.

In its 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFLPA, the league planned a gradual transition from 10 to 16-man practice squads. But once the coronavirus pandemic was underway, the league and the union agreed to immediately expand them — and it’s remained that way ever since. Teams can now sign up to six practice squad players who have an unlimited number of accrued professional seasons.

Teams are now allowed to elevate up to two players to their gameday rosters (up to three times for an individual player in the regular season) without the risk of a waiver claim. Clubs retain the ability to protect up to four players from being signed to other 53-man rosters. The Chiefs have used this ability only sparingly — generally, when there have been multiple injuries in a position group.

Read on to find out more about these players — and why Kansas City can actually have a 17th player on this year’s taxi squad.

Cole Christiansen • LB • 6-1 • 230 pounds​

After playing college football for Army, Christiansen has been on and off the Chiefs’ active roster and practice squad over the past three seasons. He appeared in nine games for the 2024 Chiefs, playing 141 snaps on special teams. He totaled six tackles this preseason.

Ethan Downs • DE • 6-4 • 264 pounds​

Downs signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in April as an undrafted free agent after four seasons at Oklahoma. He was waived in their final roster cuts. In 51 games with the Sooners, Downs accumulated 12.5 career sacks, along with a pair of forced fumbles and an interception.

Mike Edwards • S • 5-10• 205 pounds​

A six-year veteran, Edwards has won a Super Bowl playing against the Chiefs (while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021) and another one playing with Kansas City as a member of 2023’s Super Bowl LVII squad. After splitting time between the Buffalo Bills and Buccaneers in 2024, he returned to the Chiefs in the offseason, although he did not make Tuesday’s 53-man roster. Edwards has eight career interceptions in 83 regular-season games.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire • RB • 5-7 • 207 pounds​

The Chiefs’ first-round selection of the 2020 NFL Draft returns to Kansas City after a short sabbatical with the New Orleans Saints. Edwards-Helaire appeared in 48 Chiefs games over his first four seasons, totaling 2,610 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns. After re-signing with Kansas City as a free agent last year, he did not see the field. He was released in December, finishing the season with the Saints.

Chuckwuebuka Godrick • T • 6-5 • 293 pounds​

Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, Godrick has been with the Chiefs since 2022 as the team’s International Pathway Program player. The Chiefs will again receive a practice squad roster exemption for Godrick, which allows them to sign a 17th player to the unit. During his third preseason with the team, Godrick played 78 offensive snaps.

C.J. Hanson • G • 6-5 • 300 pounds​

Hanson stuck on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster all of last season after being a seventh-round pick out of Holy Cross. But despite extensive preseason action, he did not make Tuesday’s cut. Hanson’s only regular-season action came in last year’s Week 18 contest against the Denver Broncos, when the Chiefs rested most starters.

Jimmy Holiday • WR • 6-1 • 211 pounds​

Holiday took the hard road from Louisiana Tech to Kansas City by impressing as a rookie minicamp invitee and earning a contract. He was last seen impressing during the team’s final preseason game against the Chicago Bears, hauling in a 50-yard reception from quarterback Chris Oladokun.

Kevin Knowles • CB • 5-11 • 190 pounds​

A rookie free agent out of Florida State, Knowles also made his presence known in the Chiefs’ preseason game against the Bears, blocking an extra-point attempt in the second half. Knowles played in 50 games for the Seminoles over the past four seasons.

Brodric Martin • DT • 6-5 • 326 pounds​

The Detroit Lions drafted Martin out of Western Kentucky in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft (96th overall). The Chiefs actually hosted him for a Top 30 visit before that draft. Injuries limited Martin to only five games played over his first two seasons in Detroit. The Lions waived him on Tuesday.

Chris Oladokun • QB • 6-1 • 213 pounds​

Oladokun was a 2022 seventh-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers. After being waived out of his rookie training camp, he has been on Kansas City’s practice squad for almost all of the past three seasons. The South Dakota State product did finally see his first regular-season action during Week 18 in Denver last season, though he did not attempt a pass. Oladokun was credited with a rushing attempt for five yards.

Zacch Pickens • DT • 6-3 • 303 pounds​

The Bears drafted Pickens in the third round (64th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, though he was waived in this year’s final cuts. In 26 games over the past two seasons, Pickens has totaled 39 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Jammie Robinson • S • 5-11 • 195 pounds​

Robinson was a 2023 fifth-round selection out of Florida State by the Carolina Panthers. He played 21 games in Carolina over the past two seasons, including a pair of starts in his rookie campaign. The Panthers waived Robinson in December and the Arizona Cardinals claimed him. He was released in Arizona’s final cuts on Tuesday. During his sophomore season at Florida State, Robinson recorded four interceptions.

Melvin Smith Jr. • CB • 6-1 • 185 pounds​

Hailing from tiny Southern Arkansas, the Chiefs hosted Smith on a Top 30 visit before this season’s draft. Interest in this small-school sleeper came after a strong showing against more established competition at the Senior Bowl — combined with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash time at his Pro Day. Smith played 36 preseason defensive snaps for Kansas City.

Tyreke Smith • DE • 6-3 • 255 pounds​

Smith was a fifth-round selection for the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. But after playing in 39 games for Ohio State, he has had a difficult time finding his NFL footing after missing his rookie season with an injury. His second season was split between the Seahawks and the Cardinals before he spent 2024 back in Seattle on its practice squad. Smith has been credited with one tackle in three career game appearances in 2023.

Carson Steele • FB • 6-0 • 228 pounds​

Steele joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft, playing in all 17 regular-season games before missing this season’s cut. He finished his rookie campaign with 56 rushing attempts for 183 yards, adding 26 receiving yards on seven catches. In the league’s new kickoff formation, he was frequently lined up as the second return man — mostly as a blocker. Still, he returned five kickoffs for 138 yards.

Marlon Tuipulotu • DT • 6-2 • 307 pounds​

A 2021 sixth-round draft selection by the Philadelphia Eagles, Tuipulotu joined the Chiefs last August and appeared in a pair of games for the 2024 squad. After re-signing with Kansas City in March, he did not make this year’s team. In 30 career games played, Tuipulotu has totaled 47 tackles and three sacks.

Tre Watson • TE • 6-5 • 250 pounds​

An undrafted free agent from Texas A&M, Watson had a late start to Kansas City’s training camp after beginning on the team’s physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list. He played 41 preseason offensive snaps for the Chiefs. While his college stats never show a 400-yard receiving season between Fresno State and College Station, Watson’s Pro Day 4.68-second 40-yard dash time — combined with a 35-inch vertical jump — imply intriguing athleticism for the position.

---

Wide receiver Hal Presley, defensive tackle Coziah Izzard and tight end Robert Tonyan were announced on Wednesday as practice squad additions. The Chiefs added Downs, Edwards-Helaire, Martin, Pickens, and Robinson on Thursday. To make room, Presley and Izzard were released from the practice squad on Thursday, while Tonyan was signed to the 53-man roster.

While larger practice squads and expanded elevation rules have provided veteran depth and player development that was previously not possible for practice squads, these units’ primary purpose remains the same: assembling scout teams that resemble upcoming opponents.

Players are added and dropped from the practice squad frequently as practice needs change. Wide receiver Nikko Remigio appeared on the 2024 initial practice squad list, and the third-year pro making this season’s 53-man active roster is a testament to the unit’s developmental potential.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kansas-city-chiefs-roster/180387/meet-2025s-initial-practice-squad

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

In this week’s ‘Reacts’ poll, Chiefs’ fans think Travis Kelce will have a solid season

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in Kansas City Chiefs fans. You can see all of the recent survey results here.

And be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

Kingsley Suamataia at left guard​

Even though the second-round draft pick ended up getting run off the field as the starting left tackle in 2024, fans seem confident that Suamataia will stick at left guard. Four in five Kansas City fans think he’ll last the season there.

Travis Kelce in 2025​

Chiefs’ fans are also pretty confident that the team’s superstar tight end (now engaged superstar tight end) will have a good year. Almost four in five think he’ll claim at least 800 receiving yards in what could be his final NFL season — meaning that very few expect him to fall off from his 2024 performance. A little more than one in four think Kelce will claim another 1,000-yard season — which would be his first since 2022.

2025’s MVP race​

During the offseason, we’ve heard a lot of talk suggesting Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has peaked. Yet a plurality of NFL fans across the country think he has the best shot to win this season’s MVP award. Go figure!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/nfl-...s-think-travis-kelce-will-have-a-solid-season

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 things we learned from the Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster

This week, the Kansas City Chiefs released their initial 53-man roster and assembled the first edition of their practice squad.

As almost always happens, the Chiefs made a few surprising moves. However, it’s essential to note that as its needs change over the coming weeks, the team’s composition will continue to evolve.

Here are five things we learned from the first iteration of Kansas City’s 2025 roster.

1. Jalen Royals’ knee is a big question mark​

After their final preseason game, I expected the Chiefs to keep seven wide receivers — which I thought was a high number. But Kansas City opted to keep eight wide receivers on its initial roster.

As soon as we learned that wide receiver Rashee Rice and the league had agreed on a six-game suspension for Rice’s role in a high-speed auto accident in March of 2024, this made sense. On Thursday, general manager Brett Veach acknowledged that before the cutdown, the team had been made aware that Rice’s suspension was imminent.

If that was the only problem the Chiefs were preparing to meet, seven wide receivers would have made sense. But they still kept eight.

This tells me that while they are hopeful rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals will be available to start the season against the Los Angeles Chargers next Friday in São Paulo, they have prepared for life without him if his knee tendonitis lingers longer than expected.

2. The Chiefs aren’t sure how much Mike Pennel has left in the tank​

Last season, Pennel was Kansas City’s best run defender — so much so that the Chiefs chose to allow defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi to walk in free agency. But on Sunday, Kansas City brought Nnadi back through a trade with the Jets. Most assumed he would be a depth player behind Pennel.

So when the team released Pennel on Tuesday — and then didn’t add him to the practice squad — many observers were scratching their heads.

Throughout the offseason, the Chiefs had acted like the 34-year-old defensive tackle was in the plans for this season — and then in the 11th hour, they suddenly changed course.

Asked about it on Thursday, Veach said the team was trying to get younger on the defensive line — and then praised Pennel for his play in limited games last season.

It’s not hard to decipher the GM’s comments. Kansas City appears to be concerned about Pennel’s ability to play a full 17-game season — potentially followed, of course, by a three or four-game postseason. So this might not be the last we’ll see of the Topeka native — but we might have to wait a couple of months before we see him in a Chiefs uniform again.

If this is the end of the road for Pennel, he will forever have a place in the hearts of Chiefs’ fans. He has played a significant role in Kansas City’s title runs.

3. The Chiefs really believe in this group of running backs​

Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, most analysts believed the running back class was one of the deepest in recent memory. With Kansas City’s starting running back Isiah Pacheco returning from an injury-plagued 2024 season — and with Kareen Hunt’s best days now behind him — many thought the Chiefs would bring some fresh blood to the position. The team made a move in that direction by signing veteran Elijah Mitchell in free agency, but then they waited until the draft’s seventh round to select Brashard Smith. Many took this as a sign that the team liked what it had in its backfield — and the point seemed even more clear when the team waived fullback Carson Steele on Tuesday.

Kansas City’s decision to bring Clyde Edwards-Helaire onto the practice squad appears to be more about having a player it trusts — who knows the offense, provides a veteran presence and is available in a pinch — than it is about what he actually offers on the field.

But if the Chiefs weren’t happy with their running backs, we’d think they would have placed a waiver claim on a guy like the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie back Damien Martinez. They didn’t.

4. Nazeeh Johnson’s placement on IR saved Joshua Williams​

I had figured the former Fayetteville State cornerback was firmly on the outside looking in for the team’s 2025 roster — but when it was announced that Johnson would start the season on the team’s Reserve/Injured list, the door opened for Williams to return for his fourth season.

It remains to be seen if Williams will hold his roster spot once Johnson returns from IR. As of right now, he is the fifth cornerback on a team that has talented players ahead of him.

5. Cooper McDonald is going to be a fan favorite​

The only thing people love more than a champion is an underdog.

So when an underdog makes the roster of a championship-caliber team, he’s sure to be a fan favorite. McDonald certainly fits that bill. When the former TCU linebacker was signed after a minicamp tryout, nobody expected him to make the team.

But his special teams play — and his ability to shine when given the opportunity on defense — forced the team’s hand, making McDonald the most unlikely player to make the roster.

If he pans out and turns into a regular contributor, it won’t be long until you see McDonald jerseys on the backs of tailgaters in Arrowhead Stadium’s parking lot.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-things-we-learned-from-initial-53-man-roster

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs may have to count on JuJu Smith-Schuster to fill Rashee Rice’s role

The situation surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals remains unsettled. Before Tuesday’s final roster cutdown, there was fear that he would be placed on the team’s Reserve/Injured list as he continued to deal with tendonitis in his knee. That didn’t happen — and more recently, there were reports that the team expected him to be ready for the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.

But on Friday, head coach Andy Reid threw some cold water on that.

“Jalen continues to work to get himself better.” Reid told reporters. “We’ll see how it goes. I mean, it’d be a real rush [to be ready] for this week for sure. So it doesn’t look like he’ll probably make [it] this week, but [he] should be ready to go as we go down the road here.”

NFL teams don’t always count on fourth-round rookies to fill important Week 1 roles — but when they do, it’s often because a veteran player is unavailable. On Wednesday, we learned that wideout Rashee Rice would miss the first six games of the season under his long-anticipated NFL suspension. Royals seems to be the young player the Chiefs believe is best suited to take on Rice’s role — but if he’s unavailable, that responsibility will probably fall to the team’s most senior wide receiver: JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Reid believes the ninth-year veteran will be ready, willing and able to do the job — and that Patrick Mahomes won’t be afraid to throw him the ball.

“He’s in the best shape he’s been in in a long time,” Reid noted of Smith-Schuster. “So he feels very good — and we have a lot of trust in him. But most of all, Patrick has a lot of trust in him. So yeah: he can fill in that role for sure.”

While no NFL head coach wants to be without their top wideout, Reid thinks the team has been able to make the best of a bad situation.

“We had an idea that something was going to happen,” he said. “Whether it was now or later, it [didn’t] necessarily matter — but something was going to happen and it would probably be around that six-game area. And so, we went about business full steam ahead: [we] rotated guys in. Everybody got a chance to play that will have an opportunity to play here.”

And the head coach is, at least, happy that Rice had the opportunity to get some work in before he has to step away from the facility.

“He’ll be away for three weeks,” explained Reid, “and then he’ll be back in the building after that. [He’ll] able to work out here and do everything but practice. Then we’ll get him back after six weeks [in all].

“But we’ve got guys that are capable of playing here. We just have to go out and do it. Not that you don’t miss Rashee — I mean, he’s a heck of a football player. But we have other guys that are good players, too.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...th-schuster-may-have-to-fill-rashee-rice-role

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Chris Jones falls to 12th in NFL Top 100

The latest​

Top 100 Players of 2025, Nos. 20-11: Chiefs DL Chris Jones, Steelers LB T.J. Watt fall out of top 10 | NFL.com

12 – Chris Jones

Kansas City Chiefs · DE

2024 stats: 15 games | 37 tackles | 9 tfl | 5 sacks | 1 FF

Chris Jones has been a defensive stalwart and star for the Chiefs for the last nine years, playing a significant role in the team’s continued playoff success and multiple Super Bowl rings. With an active streak of six consecutive Pro Bowls and three straight first-team All-Pro nods, he’s widely regarded as one of, if not the best interior defensive lineman in the game, and the Chiefs paid him commensurately ahead of last season with a $158.75 million extension that’s almost $6 million more lucrative per year than the next highest player, per Over the Cap. At 31 years old and entering Year 10, Jones hasn’t appeared to miss a step, and should remain a fixture in the K.C. scene into his mid-30s.

NFL Pro Insight for Jones: Chris Jones recorded the second-most pressures (61) among defensive tackles this season, with 26 (most) coming in under 2.5 seconds. Jones averaged the quickest get off at his position (0.85 seconds) resulting in the fourth-quickest time to pressure (2.67 seconds) among defensive tackles with at least 15 pressures this season.

Agent’s Take: Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, Joey Bosa headline 15 bounce-back candidates for 2025 season CBS Sports

Jawaan Taylor, OT, Chiefs

Taylor was surprisingly given a four-year, $80 million contract with $60 million in guarantees, of which $40 million was fully guaranteed at signing, in 2023 free agency. He hasn’t come close to living up to his contract. The Chiefs signed Jaylon Moore, who was a swing tackle for the 49ers for the last four years while on his rookie contract, to a two-year, $30 million contract, averaging $15 million per year as an unrestricted free agent in March. That’s Moore’s likely role again because 2025 first-round pick Josh Simmons appears to be Kansas City’s long-term solution at left tackle. Taylor’s days in Kansas City will surely be numbered with another disappointing season since his replacement, Moore, is already on the roster.

Bleacher Report’s NFL All-Quarter-Century Team | Bleacher Report

1st Team: Tom Brady

2nd Team: Peyton Manning

3rd Team: Patrick Mahomes

Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers also received votes at quarterback, but the top three were totally unsurprising.

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of the QB voting was the fact that Tom Brady didn’t receive 100 percent of the first-team votes. After winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and another one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady is unquestionably the most decorated quarterback in NFL history.

Of course, an argument could be made that Peyton Manning was the best quarterback of his era; he just wasn’t fortunate enough to be on teams as good as Brady’s. The five-time MVP and two-time champ trails only Brady and Drew Brees in all-time passing yards and still holds single-season records for yards (5,477) and touchdowns (55).

Patrick Mahomes is still playing and has a long way to go to catch Brady and Manning in career statistics. However, he has become the face of the modern NFL era. With three Super Bowl wins and five appearances in seven seasons as a full-time starter, Mahomes could retire tomorrow and be a Hall of Famer.

Bold NFL 2025 season predictions: Giants turn to Jaxson Dart early; Broncos win AFC West | The Athletic

Kansas City Chiefs: Defense is top three in sacks in 2025

K.C. finished tied for 18th with 39 sacks last season. So why might there be hope for a huge jump this season? For one, the underlying stats are on the Chiefs’ side; pressures are more reliable year to year than sacks, and teammates Chris Jones and George Karlaftis remained elite in that category a season ago. Add in a more healthy Charles Omenihu — he’s now 1 1/2 years removed from knee surgery — and an emerging defensive end rookie in Ashton Gillotte, and the Chiefs could easily end up with one of the NFL’s top pass rushes. — Jesse Newell

Debunking your favorite NFL officiating conspiracy theories | ESPN

The fix is not in.

While some teams were penalized more than others during a single season, the number of penalties called against individual teams evened out over multiple seasons, according to ESPN’s analysis. Being penalized more — in individual penalties or yards — did not mean more wins or losses.

“It tells us that we do not have evidence of any systematic bias in penalties called in the NFL over the past several years,” Cochran wrote in an email. “I am sorry for the fans who believe the NFL referees are biased against their favorite team, but it isn’t so.”

Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino, who was the NFL’s vice president of officiating from 2013 to 2017, said the league’s own analyses over time also found that penalties were not a “major factor” in wins and losses. Actions such as turnovers had a greater impact.

“I always said that to coaches. I was like, ‘Listen, you can have a year where you were on the wrong end of a bunch of calls,'” he said. “Over time, it tends to even out. It just does.”

Around the NFL​

Parsons expresses relief, excitement for fresh start with Packers | ESPN

Micah Parsons was beginning to worry that his situation with the Dallas Cowboys might not get settled by the start of the regular season, which is why Thursday, as he was leaving the team facility after getting treatment on his back, he placed another phone call to his agent, David Mulugheta.

Mulugheta was putting together the final details on Parsons’ blockbuster trade and massive contract extension with the Green Bay Packers, but Parsons was getting impatient.

“I told him that day, I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I need you to get something done soon,'” Parsons said. “I haven’t not played football this long since I was in seventh grade.”

Within a few hours, the Packers sent two first-round picks plus Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Cowboys. Green Bay also finalized a four-year, $188 million contract extension with Parsons that, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, included $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and $136 million in total guarantees, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs Roster: The 10 most intriguing players in 2025

2. Wide receiver Rashee Rice

Even without his six-game suspension to begin the season, there are a lot of angles about Rice that will make him intriguing in 2025. Coming off his injury, what kind of player will he be? After all, we don’t even know the level from which he is starting. Rice’s stats to begin 2024 were definitely on an All-Pro trajectory, but it was also just a three-game sample. Is that the caliber of player he will be over a longer stretch? There’s little doubt that Rice’s return will be helpful to the offense, but it’ll be interesting to see whether he’s truly an elite player.

3. Safety Jaden Hicks

It’s possible that safety Justin Reid’s importance to the Kansas City defense wasn’t fully understood. He wasn’t a superstar, but he did fill a valuable role in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme. One of the league’s better tacklers, he was very good in run support — and could help defend tight ends in man coverage. He was a great blitzer, too. Reid could do many things in a defense that requires versatility from its safeties.

After his departure, the Chiefs don’t have a lot of talent at safety. While Bryan Cook and Chamarri Conner are fine, neither are as physically talented as Reid. But before he was drafted in 2024, I comped Hicks to Reid — and I think he’s the man to take Reid’s place. He has the length and closing speed to be good in run support. To get Hicks to work, I don’t think the team needs to tweak its scheme, but he does have to prove he can fill that valuable safety spot.

Social media to make you think​

When everything is on the line, are you still willing to 𝗺𝗮𝘅 𝗼𝘂𝘁?

First episode now streaming: https://t.co/817Ijomoy5 pic.twitter.com/BmrPsaYJDS

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 30, 2025

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ines-chris-jones-falls-to-12th-in-nfl-top-100

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs preparing to see familiar — but highly respected — Chargers squad

On Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs will open their 2025 regular season in São Paulo, Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers. Meeting with reporters before starting the week’s practices on Sunday, head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and cornerback Trent McDuffie shared their thoughts on the looming division opponent.

Mahomes moved on to preparing for the Chargers immediately after Kansas City’s final preseason game against the Chicago Bears — but after looking at the Week 1 game plan, the quarterback believes the coaching staff got there first.

“I think it’s a good game plan,” remarked the league’s biggest star. “I think coaches have kind of been on it even before we finished that last preseason game.”

Mahomes has a good feel for what Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter — whose unit allowed a league-low 301 points in 2024 — might bring, because Los Angeles could have been Kansas City’s divisional round opponent last season.

“Obviously, I have a good feel for stuff they did last year,” Mahomes noted. “You play them twice, and then we had that [postseason] bye week. So, I was watching Chargers film with the possibility of playing them in the playoffs last year. They’re a good defense; they’re a really good defense on every single level. They have great players. They’re coached really well by Coach Minter, and they’re going to come in with the right mentality.

“So it’s about us accepting the challenge, and I feel like we have a good game plan in so far. We’ll keep adding to that throughout the week, but you’ve got to be able to execute on a play-by-play basis in order to move the football, because they will capitalize on all miscues and take advantage of their opportunities.”

The biggest offseason question surrounding the Chiefs has been the team’s young offensive line. A deep Chargers front seven led by veteran pass rusher Khalil Mack will be a good test.

“I think every step of the way so far,” remarked Mahomes of his blockers, “they’ve done a great job of getting better and better and kind of checking those boxes, and so this will be a great test for them. This is a prolific D-line with Khalil Mack — and really all [the others]. They have depth at edge and at D-tackle — and they were one of the best defenses in the league this last year. So, it’ll be another test for [our] guys — and I’m excited for them to go out there, accept the challenge and showcase who they are.”

Reid identified Mack — along with safety Derwin James — as difficult players to plan for.

“They’re a zone team,” observed the coach, “but the zones are tight, and they have a bunch of different combinations. Plus, they can play man — and they do that well — but the way their zones are, they do a heck of a job with that. You can see why they were ranked so high. They’re trying not to give up the big play, obviously, but at the same time, [making offenses] be unable to attack underneath. They’ve got good speed on the defense, and those front guys — 52 [Mack] is heck of a player and that number 3 [James] is not bad, either.”

The Chiefs will be playing without wideout Rashee Rice, who will be starting a six-game suspension. Mahomes knows losing Rice’s talents is a blow, but he trusts that general manager Brett Veach has built a receiver room that can overcome the third-year pro’s absence.

“Obviously,” said Mahomes, “losing a receiver of that magnitude — [who is] that good — it takes away from the offense in a sense. At the same time, Veach and [his staff] have brought in a lot of receiver depth so that guys can step up and take over that role in different spots. It won’t be just one guy. It’ll be multiple guys that will do some of the stuff that Rashee has done. Then, other guys will step up at other spots and make plays as well.”

On the other side of the ball, McDuffie noted the Chargers’ strong running attack. In the passing game, there is no doubt they are built around second-year receiver Ladd McConkey, who remains less familiar to Kansas City than we might expect.

“Last year, we only played him once,” McDuffie reminded his listeners. “He was hurt that second time we played them, so we really don’t have [a lot of] film on him… The things that I’ve seen, I really like how he plays: his space [and his] separation out of the breaks. [He runs] really good routes — and you can just tell his timing with Justin Herbert over the course of the year really got better and better. So he’s a really good receiver — and I think it’s going to be a really good challenge for us on the back end to go out there and see what we’re about.”

However the Chargers attack the Chiefs, McDuffie knows he and his teammates will have their hands full.

“I think they do really good at just running their offense,” he noted, “and not caring what the defense throws at them. They’re really well-coached. I think they’re going to be a really good challenge for us — to go out there Week 1, be able to stop the run and make plays on the back end.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...paring-for-familiar-highly-respected-chargers

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Mike Pennel signs with the Bengals

According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, former Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Mike Pennel has been signed to the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad.

Veteran DT Mike Pennel is signing with the #Bengals, per source. Practice squad initially with active roster capabilities.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 1, 2025

Pennel, 34, was a surprise release during the team’s final roster cutdown on Tuesday. It was initially assumed that this was the first move in a maneuver that would put another player on the practice squad after the initial 53-man roster had been set — but speaking to reporters on Thursday, general manager Brett Veach put a different spin on it.

“I think with every position group, we’re trying to get better, and we’re trying to add competition,” he said, per Chiefs Digest. “I think that was one position group we were trying to continually get deeper, get younger, get more athletic.”

Toward that end, Veach revealed that the team had been in negotiations with the Cleveland Browns to acquire defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, who was ultimately traded to the New York Jets. So the Chiefs traded with the Jets to re-acquire 29-year-old defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi. That led to Pennel’s release.

“I think when it came to Derrick, [it was] probably [a] similar level of play [to] what we’ve seen [from Pennel] — but both those guys have, over the years, played and helped us out in games,” explained Veach. “But I do think you take in [the] consideration [of] just the length of the season.”

This appeared to suggest that Kansas City was concerned Pennel might no longer be able to handle a full season with the Chiefs. It seems likely that in such a situation, the team would have wanted to put Pennel on its practice squad. Social media posts that some have interpreted to mean Pennel is angry with the team could indicate that he refused an offer to be on the Chiefs’ practice squad — but if that were the case, why would the Topeka native then accept an offer to be on the Cincinnati practice squad? Being signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad is exactly how he returned to Kansas City two years ago.

On Thursday, Veach indicated the team would welcome Pennel back in the right circumstances.

“I think we’d always be open to that for sure,” said Veach. “Mike’s a guy that, I mean, he’s a special human being — and we love Mike. He’s one of those guys that I feel every time we’ve gotten him back in short spurts, it’s been the best he has.

“I mean, even at his age, he’s a juice guy [and] he’s an energy guy. We love him, so [we’re] certainly keeping that door open as well. I think all options are open for us at that position.”

Pennel’s signing with the Bengals doesn’t necessarily close the door on a return to Kansas City. As long as he hasn’t been activated to the Cincinnati roster, the Chiefs could poach him at any time. And let’s not forget: the defensive tackle had been on two other NFL teams before he returned to Kansas City in 2023.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kansas-city-chiefs-roster/180578/mike-pennel-signs-with-the-bengals

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Sim of 2025 season has the Chiefs and Eagles missing the playoffs

The latest​

2025 NFL season sim: Predictions, surprises, playoff teams | ESPN

Both Super Bowl LIX teams miss playoffs
Eleven months after the Chiefs and Eagles squared off in Super Bowl LIX, both teams cleaned out their lockers following Week 18. Neither managed to make it back to the playoffs, easily the shocker of the 2025 campaign in this simulation.
The Eagles were actually done before the final week. Thought to be infallible heading into the season, the Eagles were 5-4 after Week 10 — a game behind the Cowboys but still seemingly in control of their postseason destiny. But that turned into a 6-8 record, leaving Philadelphia in pure panic mode. In the end, the Eagles couldn’t make up the gap, falling short in the NFC East and wild-card battle.
The Chiefs’ collapse was much more startling. Kansas City controlled its destiny in the AFC West after beating the Broncos on Christmas Day to improve to 9-7. It needed to only to beat the Raiders to secure its 11th straight playoff spot. But Patrick Mahomes‘ clutch gene was nowhere to be found as the Chiefs fell 28-19, allowing the Broncos — who won their Week 18 game — to win the division on a tiebreaker. No wild-card bid for the Chiefs either.
The two defending conference champions weren’t the only surprising teams to miss the playoffs in 2025. The Commanders, 49ers and Packers all missed the postseason, too.

Each NFL team’s ceiling and floor for 2025: Who can knock off Eagles, Chiefs? Teams with no shot at winning? | CBS Sports

Ceiling: 15-2, win Super Bowl

The expectation in Kansas City is a world championship. The Chiefs have won three Super Bowls in the past six years and have been to five of them in that span. They have the best head coach-quarterback duo in Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, never missing a conference championship game since Mahomes became the starting quarterback. Josh Simmons should solve the left tackle problem and Mahomes looks primed to have another MVP-caliber season. Let’s not forget the offense has more downfield playmakers and Travis Kelce appears ready for a bounce-back year. The Chiefs are going to be very good again.

Floor: 12-5, lose in conference championship game

A down year for the Chiefs is a conference championship game loss. That’s the standard Kansas City has set for itself in the Reid-Mahomes era. There are some cracks in the pipe for the Chiefs, as the left side of the offensive line has its flaws (even with Simmons) and the depth of this team will be tested. They also have won a lot of one-score games (11-0 last year), so a reversal of fortune may be in order. Regardless, the Chiefs are still one of the best teams in football. If Mahomes is on the field, they have an excellent shot at making a deep playoff run.

NFL Schedule 2025: Ranking Every Week 18 Option for ‘Sunday Night Football’ Flex | SI

10. Chiefs at Raiders

It seems fitting to have the Chiefs one spot ahead of the Cowboys, given the conversation in recent years about whether Kansas City has overtaken Dallas as the new king of television ratings. NBC similarly would be thrilled to have a bonus Chiefs game on the schedule in January. However, the schedule makers didn’t pair up K.C. with either of the AFC West teams that earned wild-card spots last season and are expected to contend. If Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly have the Raiders in the mix, this would be a great rivalry game to finish out the season. But in a world where the league really does prioritize playoff stakes over ratings for this time slot, this game has a ceiling.

Kansas City Chiefs Announce Partnership with Cheez-It as They Launch in Germany | The Mothership

Cheez-It, a fan favorite in the United States for more than a century, officially launched in Germany in August 2025 and is now available in more than 40,000 locations nationwide, including supermarkets, gas stations, and vending machines. Like the Chiefs, Cheez-It stands for excitement, entertainment, and loyal fans – making the two a natural fit.

“Cheez-It is one of America’s most beloved snack brands, and this partnership is a great way to share that tradition with fans in Germany,” said Kellen Begnoche, Chiefs Vice President of Partnership Strategy. “With Cheez-It making its debut, we’re thrilled to give fans another way to experience the thrill and flavor of NFL game day.”

Andreas Billker, Senior Marketing Activation Manager Salty Snacks for Kellanova adds: “Cheez-It is more than just a snack – it’s a cultural icon with deep roots in American fandom. Partnering with the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the most iconic franchises in American sports, is a natural fit for us. As we expand into Germany, we’re excited to bring the energy, passion and game-day spirit of both our brands to a whole new fanbase.”

2025 NFL projected win totals: Floor & ceiling for each AFC team | NFL.com

11.2 wins

Kansas City Chiefs

AFC WEST CHAMPIONS

Ceiling: 13.4

Floor: 9.5

Even with Rashee Rice suspended to start the season, I think we’ll see Patrick Mahomes bounce back near the top five of the passing leaderboards; he ranks in the top five in passing TDs in just over 35 percent of simulations. (For context, Joe Burrow has the highest odds to be in the top five, doing so in 57 percent of simulations.) Mahomes is my QB6 in fantasy (and Travis Kelce is my TE6).

Around the NFL​

Rams’ Matthew Stafford expected to start opener against Texans | ESPN

Stafford missed nearly the first month of training camp while dealing with the injury but has been a full participant in practice since his Aug. 18 return. McVay said Monday that Stafford will participate in the full week of practice leading up to the Rams’ Week 1 game against the Texans.

McVay also said left tackle Alaric Jackson, who is dealing with lower leg blood clots, participated in Monday’s practice. McVay said that although the blood clots will “always [be] something that you have to manage,” the plan is for Jackson to play against Houston.

“I do believe that we’ll be at our best with him out there,” McVay said.

Steelers starting RB Jaylen Warren signs 2-year extension | ESPN

The deal includes $12 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The deal also includes a $5.95M signing bonus, upping Warren’s pay to $7-plus-million in 2025 (he was due $5.346M on a restricted tender), a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Warren gets $5.05M in 2026 and $5.15M in 2027 for a total of $17.25M over three years, a source told Fowler.

Warren, who initially made the Steelers’ roster as a rookie undrafted free agent in 2022 after turning heads in his first training camp, enters the 2025 season as the team’s starting running back after three seasons as a complementary player to former first-round pick Najee Harris. The Steelers declined Harris’ fifth-year option and let him walk in free agency earlier this year, leaving Warren leading a position group that also includes rookie third-round pick Kaleb Johnson and former Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs Roster: GM Brett Veach gives clarity wideouts, Mike Pennel cut

Without Rice — who is clearly the team’s top wideout — there will be more pressure on other wide receivers to produce during the opening weeks of the season. Veach believes rookie wideout Jalen Royals has a similar skill set, but he’s presently battling tendonitis. Still, Veach thinks there’s another wideout who can pitch in — and as long as veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster is on the team, Veach isn’t worried.

“I think both of those guys have a similar skill set,” said Veach. “Obviously JuJu’s been here for a while, and JuJu — to his credit — I think he looked better with this camp than he did the last camp he was here. He’s really taking care of his body, so that’s a good thing because we’re getting JuJu fresh and at the beginning of the season.”

Veach also addressed the situation with 34-year-old defensive tackle Mike Pennel — a fan favorite who was released at final cutdown. There was immediate speculation that Pennel would be brought back after another player had been placed on the Reserve/Injured list — a common tactic among GMs working to get their rosters to 53 men — but Veach said there is more to the story than that.

“I think with every position group, we’re trying to get better, and we’re trying to add competition,” he said, per Chiefs Digest. “I think that was one position group we were trying to continually get deeper, get younger, get more athletic.”

Social media to make you think​

Keep this in mind about the Chiefs during Prediction Week…. pic.twitter.com/OaVHyNqOsW

— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) September 1, 2025

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...as-the-chiefs-and-eagles-missing-the-playoffs

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Chargers Tuesday injury report: Only Jalen Royals is held out

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. This week, the Chiefs will be in São Paulo, Brazil to play the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday at 7 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Here is the Chiefs’ first official injury report of the week:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Tue	Wed	Thu	Status
Jalen Royals	WR	Knee	DNP	–	–	–
Omarr Norman-Lott	DL	Ankle	LP	–	–	–
Jared Wiley	TE	Knee	FP	–	–	–
Hollywood Brown	WR	Ankle	FP	–	–	–
Jawaan Taylor	T	Knee	FP	–	–	–
Jack Cochrane	LB	Knee	FP	–	–	–
Drue Tranquill	LB	Back	FP	–	–	–
Kristian Fulton	CB	Knee	FP	–	–	–

Chargers​

Check back soon for the Chargers’ official injury report.

Some notes​

• Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said that only rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) had been held out of that day’s practice.
• “Everybody else practiced [and] had a good day today,” said the coach, adding that the team will fly to Brazil on Wednesday and do a walkthrough practice (which the team would do on Saturday for a Sunday game) on Thursday.
• Reid didn’t mention that second-round rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (ankle) was a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice. We’ll see if he improves enough to play on Friday.
• It appears that all the other players who have been struggling with injuries in the last couple of weeks will be good-to-go for the game — including cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee), right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee), linebacker Drue Tranquill (back) and wide receiver Hollywood Brown (ankle).
• Asked how he was feeling, Brown had a direct answer for reporters. “Feeling good,” he said. “Blessed. Real good.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...y-injury-report-only-jalen-royals-is-held-out

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs open 2025 season against Chargers: Everything we know

• Chiefs-Chargers Wednesday injury report: Jalen Royals staying home
• Dave Toub: ‘We’ll see’ about potential field issues against Chargers in Brazil
• Chiefs-Chargers Tuesday injury report: Only Jalen Royals is held out
• Rookie Josh Simmons is ready for first NFL test in Brazil
• Chiefs open as favorites over the Chargers in Week 1
• NFL power rankings Week 1 roundup: Chiefs near the top
• Steve Spagnuolo: It takes a while before you know what you have on defense
• Chargers WR Ladd McConkey has the Chiefs’ attention
• Chiefs preparing to see familiar — but highly respected — Chargers squad
• Chiefs may have to count on JuJu Smith-Schuster to fill Rashee Rice’s role

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...25-season-against-chargers-everything-we-know

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Chargers Wednesday injury report: Jalen Royals staying home

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. This week, the Chiefs will be in São Paulo, Brazil to play the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday at 7 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Here is the Chiefs’ second official injury report of the week, which is an estimated statement:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Tue	Wed	Thu	Status
Jalen Royals	WR	Knee	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Omarr Norman-Lott	DL	Ankle	LP	LP	–	–
Jared Wiley	TE	Knee	FP	FP	–	–
Hollywood Brown	WR	Ankle	FP	FP	–	–
Jawaan Taylor	T	Knee	FP	FP	–	–
Jack Cochrane	LB	Knee	FP	FP	–	–
Drue Tranquill	LB	Back	FP	FP	–	–
Kristian Fulton	CB	Knee	FP	FP	–	–

Chargers​

Check back soon for the Chargers’ official injury report.

Some notes​

• Since the Chiefs are spending the day traveling to Brazil, there was no Wednesday practice. So this week’s second injury report is estimated; today’s entries are the same as yesterday’s.
• The team has announced that rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals is not making the trip to São Paulo. He has officially been declared out for Friday’s game.
• Second-round rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (ankle) was a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice. We’ll see if he improves enough to play on Friday.
• It appears that all the other players who have recently been struggling with injuries will be good-to-go for the game — including cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee), right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee), linebacker Drue Tranquill (back) and wide receiver Hollywood Brown (ankle).
• The team will do a walkthrough practice (which the team would do on Saturday for a Sunday game) on Thursday. The final injury report will be issued after that session.

For the Tuesday injury report, click here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...eek-1-injury-report-jalen-royals-staying-home