Chiefs To Bring Back TE Blake Bell
The Chiefs have lost several offensive contributors this offseason, but they will bring back one of their backup tight ends. Blake Bell agreed to terms to stay in Kansas City on Friday.
Bell and the Chiefs agreed on a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Bell, who is going into his ninth NFL season, is now in position to play a fourth season with the Chiefs.
Although Bell’s Chiefs tenure has been split up into two stints, he was on both the team’s recent Super Bowl-winning teams. The former 49ers draftee caught on with the Chiefs in 2019 but signed with the Cowboys in 2020. He wound up back in Kansas City a year later and has now agreed to remain in place as a Travis Kelce backup.
The Chiefs have used Bell, 31, as a starter in 13 games. He was unable to make much of a contribution last season due to a preseason hip injury. Bell landed on IR before the start of last season and missed 13 regular-season games. The eventual Super Bowl champions, however, used one of their injury activations on Bell once he was ready to return. The 6-foot-6 tight end re-emerged to catch his first career touchdown pass — a 17-yarder against the Broncos on New Year’s Day — and play in each of the Chiefs’ three playoff games. During Bell’s most recent full season (2021), he played 322 offensive snaps.
Bell’s career has also included stops with the Vikings and Jaguars — from 2017-18 — but he is best known for being one of Kelce’s sidekicks. The Chiefs have a younger player in that role now, in 2021 fifth-round pick Noah Gray. The second-year player emerged as an interesting receiving option in the Patrick Mahomes-piloted offense last season, catching 28 passes for 299 yards, but the Chiefs are still freeing up a spot for Bell to come back.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/23/22
Today’s minor moves heading into the NFL’s largest slate of Saturday games of the season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: DT Isaiah Mack
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Cole Beasley, DE Kingsley Jonathan
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: RB Khalil Herbert (story)
- Signed to active roster: CB Breon Borders
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Chase Allen, WR Nsimba Webster
- Placed on IR: CB Jaylon Johnson, CB Kindle Vildor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Allan George
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Mackensie Alexander, C Brock Hoffman
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: S Brady Breeze, TE Garrett Griffin
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from IR: TE Blake Bell
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Danny Shelton
- Placed on IR: TE Jody Fortson
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: G Kyle Hinton
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: LS Tucker Addington
- Promoted from practice squad: K Tristan Vizcaino, TE Scotty Washington
- Placed on IR: LS Joe Cardona
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: WR Kirk Merritt
- Promoted from practice squad: G Josh Andrews, WR Keith Kirkwood
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to active roster: LB Christian Elliss
- Promoted from practice squad: P Brett Kern
- Placed on IR: TE Tyree Jackson
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Michael Dwumfour, WR Willie Snead
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Godwin Igwebuike, RB Wayne Gallman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: WR Deven Thompkins
- Placed on IR: LB Genard Avery
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Andre Smith, Jonathan Ward
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/22
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed off Steelers practice squad: LB David Anenih
- Designated for return: TE John FitzPatrick
- Placed on IR: RB Caleb Huntley
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: LB Josh Ross
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return: WR Andre Roberts
Chicago Bears
- Signed off Chiefs practice squad: LB Elijah Lee
- Designated for return: RB Khalil Herbert (story)
- Released: CB Justin Layne
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return: C Ethan Pocic
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: QB Jarrett Guarantano
- Placed on IR: CB Darius Phillips
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: RB Jordan Wilkins
- Signed off Patriots practice squad: LB Cameron McGrone
- Waived: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for return: TE Blake Bell
San Francisco 49ers
- Designated for return: DT Kalia Davis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: WR Laquon Treadwell
- Placed on IR: DT Bryan Mone
Washington Commanders
- Designated for return: TE Curtis Hodges
Caleb Huntley suffered a season-ending Achilles injury this past weekend, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The injury is expected to require surgery. The Falcons RB made his NFL this season and has collected 369 yards from scrimmage.
While Russell Wilson is expected to start for the Broncos on Christmas, the Broncos still decided to promote a third QB to the roster in Jarrett Guarantano. According to Troy Renck of Denver7 (on Twitter), there was enough interest from other teams (including the Cardinals) for the Broncos to decide to promote the rookie. The UDFA out of Washington State had his first professional gig with the Cardinals before catching on with the Broncos.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/5/22
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Shemar Bridgers
Carolina Panthers
- Released: DT Daviyon Nixon
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: CB Allan George
- Reverted to active roster: S Jessie Bates
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: OL Drew Forbes, LB Jordan Kunasyzk
Detroit Lions
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DL Eric Banks, OL Kevin Jarvis, DB C.J. Moore, DE Jashon Cornell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: DT Raequan Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: TE Blake Bell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: DT Tyler Lancaster
New York Giants
- Waived: RB Sandro Platzgummer
New York Jets
- Re-signed: OL Conor McDermott
- Released: RB Zonovan Knight
Washington Commanders
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Keith Ismael
Nixon generated significant draft buzz after his college career at Iowa. His final season with the Hawkeyes in 2020 included 5.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, though he fell to the fifth round that year. He played sparingly as a rookie, and has met injury troubles early in his pro career. Despite the move, Carolina has a number of options to call on in a rotational role behind Derrick Brown and Matt Ioannidis.
The roster cutting by the Bengals was necessary with today being the time at which Bates’ time on the Commissioner’s Exempt List expired. The franchise-tagged safety was the final holdout of the 2022 offseason, inking his tender long past the deadline for a long-term deal to be finalized. Fully back to team practices and activities, Bates’ time on the list allowed him to ramp up at his own rate following a lengthy absence throughout the spring and summer.
Lancaster was one of several additions the Raiders made on the d-line during free agency. The former UDFA spent the first four years of his career in Green Bay, registering 10 starts in 2019. Other signings such as Bilal Nichols and Andrew Billings will see plenty of playing time along the defensive interior in his absence.
Chiefs Bring Back Austin Reiter, Blake Bell
In the aftermath of their sizeable trade yesterday, the Chiefs have confirmed a number of signings, reuniting the team with some familiar faces. Among those is center Austin Reiter and tight end Blake Bell. 
[RELATED: Chiefs Trade Hill To Dolphins]
Reiter, 30, departed Kanas City last offseason after three years with the team, as part of their mass overhaul of the offensive line. He signed with the Saints in September, but only dressed for one game in New Orleans. He played six games with the Dolphins, starting five of those contests.
By re-joining the Chiefs, Reiter will be returning to the team with which he won the Super Bowl. He will not be reclaiming the starting role he had during that time, though, as rookie center Creed Humphrey was among the best in the position last season. Still, the former Brown will represent experienced depth for the o-line.
As for Bell, re-signing means he will be extending his second stint with the Chiefs. The former fourth rounder began his career with the 49ers in 2015, then spent individual years with Minnesota and Jacksonville. That was followed by a move to Kansas City, then another change of scenery in 2020, this time to Dallas.
However, he returned to the Chiefs last offseason, where he served as an effective backup to Travis Kelce. The blocking ability he has become known for was on display, while he brought his receiving totals (between the two seasons in Kansas City) to 17 catches for 154 yards.
Suddenly flush with cap space after the Tyreek Hill trade, the Chiefs likely won’t have used much of their available funds to bring back these two veterans. They should still be able to make other, more sizeable moves, but they will at a minimum have two familiar faces back in the fold on offense.
NFL COVID List Updates: 12/24/21
We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed on or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Chuck Clark, C Trystan Colon
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Nate McCrary
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Chris Streveler
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: T Bobby Hart
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Gabriel Davis, G Cody Ford
Chicago Bears
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Bilal Nichols
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Mike Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB A.J. Green, QB Case Keenum, WR Jarvis Landry, QB Baker Mayfield, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: K Chase McLaughlin, DT Jordan Elliott
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Tedric Thompson
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jourdan Lewis, WR Simi Fehoko
Denver Broncos
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Barrington Wade
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Kenny Clark
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chauncey Rivers
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Quenton Nelson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Josh Allen, WR Laviska Shenault, OL Ben Bartch
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Blake Bell
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19: P Tommy Townsend
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Justin Jones
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Jordan Fuller, TE Tyler Higbee
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Cole Williamson
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Gerrid Doaks
New England Patriots
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Demario Davis, DB J.T. Gray, T Ryan Ramczyk, RB Dwayne Washington
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S J.R. Reed, OLB Oshane Ximines
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: C Jonotthan Harrison
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jeff Smith, CB Justin Hardee
- Placed from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Ryan Griffin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Landon Dickerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Montravius Adams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Isaiah Buggs
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Travis Homer
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: OL Pier-Olivier Lestage
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DB Jamal Carter
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Taylor Lewan
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Kyle Allen, S Kamren Curl, LB Milo Eifler, CB Kendall Fuller
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Nate Orchard
NFL COVID List Updates: 12/21/21
Once again, we’ve had a busy day of moves on and off the reserve/COVID-19 list. Here are the players who were placed on the list or activated off of it today:
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: Practice Squad CB Cornell Armstrong, Practice Squad OLB Quinton Bell
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: Practice Squad WR Binjimen Victor
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Pernell McPhee
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Cole Beasley
Chicago Bears
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Artie Burns, DB Duke Shelley (remains on IR)
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Bilal Nichols
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Clay Johnston
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Mike Boone, Practice Squad WR Seth Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Jaleel Johnson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Blake Bell, LB Nick Bolton, DB Rashad Fenton, WR Tyreek Hill, G Kyle Long, T Lucas Niang, DB Armani Watts
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Chase Daniel, DE Joe Gaziano
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Von Miller, LB Christian Rozeboom
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Danielle Hunter, WR Dede Westbrook, WR Trishton Jackson
New England Patriots
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Dalton Keene (remains on IR)
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Juwan Johnson
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Mike White
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Michael Carter, G Alijah Vera-Tucker
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Troy Apke
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Sammis Reyes, DT Tim Settle
Chiefs Place WR Tyreek Hill On COVID-19 List
The Chiefs are placing wide receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Rashad Fenton, and tight Blake Bell on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, according to Adam Teicher and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The team is expecting to add more players to the list and, as one source tells the duo, “It’s a mess.” 
[RELATED: Chiefs Place Kelce On Reserve/COVID-19 List]
The Chiefs have, for all intents and purposes, punched their ticket to the playoffs as well as the AFC West crown. Still, they’re pushing to lock up a first-round bye over the next few weeks. They currently lead the AFC with a 10-4 record but the Patriots (9-5) aren’t far behind.
Fortunately, the Chiefs have a ways to go between now and Sunday afternoon’s tilt against the Steelers. Any players who are vaccinated, asymptomatic, and able to pass another test will be able to play. They’ll be keeping their fingers crossed for Travis Kelce, Hill, and any other positives that emerge this week.
Hill, 27, is in the midst of another outstanding season with 102 catches for 1,178 yards and nine touchdowns through 14 games. Just last week, he torched the Chargers for a 12/148/1 line, so the Steelers could stand to benefit from his absence. They, too, are still playing for something at 7-6-1 — Five Thirty Eight gives them an 18% chance of making the playoffs with a 10% chance of taking the sardine-packed AFC North.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/18/21
We’ll keep tabs on today’s “minor” moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Darius Clark
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: LS Patrick Scales
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Greg Senat
- Waived: T Drake Dorbeck
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DL Carlos Watkins
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: WR Mike Thomas
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: TE Blake Bell, RB Elijah McGuire
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: TE Johnny Mundt
Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-signed: DT Hassan Ridgeway
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Trent Sherfield
Cowboys Sign TE Blake Bell
Blake Bell is heading to Dallas. The Cowboys have reached an agreement with the tight end, reports ESPN’s Todd Archer.
The 2015 fourth-rounder has bounced around the NFL a bit throughout his career, and he spent the 2019 campaign with the Chiefs. Known mostly as a blocking tight end, Bell has still managed to contribute in the receiving game. In 15 games (seven starts) last year, the 28-year-old hauled in eight catches 67 yards.
He also added three receptions for 24 yards and one touchdown during the playoffs, including a nine-yard catch during the Super Bowl.
Bell will be joining a revamped tight ends depth chart in Dallas. After Jason Witten left for the Raiders, the Cowboys inked Blake Jarwin to a four-year extension. The organization is also rostering Dalton Schultz and Cole Hikutini.