Chiefs Sign Nate Orchard
The Chiefs signed free agent linebacker Nate Orchard, according to a team announcement. Orchard will help to fill in for Justin Hosuton, who may miss multiple games with a hamstring injury. 
At minimum, it sounds like the Chiefs will be without Houston on Sunday night when they face the Patriots. Houston is one of the club’s defensive leaders and has has three sacks and two forced fumbles so far this year. The Chiefs will be hurting without him, but the injury could pave the way for Orchard to see the field.
After spending three seasons with the Browns, the 2015 second-round pick was released by the team in September. Orchard was plenty productive during his rookie campaign, compiling 36 tackles and three sacks in 15 games (11 starts). Unfortunately, the Utah product was limited to only three games in 2016 after suffering an ankle injury, and he settled into more of a reserve role in 2017. He ultimately finished last season with 25 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (one start).
Orchard, a darling of this year’s “Hard Knocks,” hooked on with the Bills after being cut by Cleveland, but lasted only three weeks. He’ll try to make it a longer stay in Kansas City.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/9/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer:
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Rishard Matthews (story), K Daniel Carlson, K Kai Forbath, QB Malik Zaire
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Alvin Jones
Buffalo Bills
- WR Aaron Burbridge, WR Bennie Fowler, QB Landry Jones, P Drew Kaser, P Brad Nortman
Carolina Panthers
- LB Thurston Armbrister, LB Brandon Chubb, LB Josh Keyes
Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Blake Bell, TE Khari Lee, TE Clive Walford
Cleveland Browns
- OT Brant Weiss
Detroit Lions
- LB Garret Dooley, LB John Timu, LB Aaron Wallace, DT Jamie Meder, DT David Parry
Green Bay Packers
- RB Tra Carson (signed to practice squad), WR Keon Hatcher (signed to PS), WR Devin Lucien, WR Teo Redding
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
- S Mike Mitchell (signed, story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB Jamaal Charles (signed, story), RB Charcandrick West, LS Jon Condo, LS Matt Overton, LS Zach Triner, TE Pharoah McKever (signed to PS), WR Breshad Perriman, QB Josh Woodrum
Kansas City Chiefs
- LB Nate Orchard, LB Gimel President, LB Frank Zombo (signed, story)
New Orleans Saints
- WR Quan Bray, WR Rashad Greene, WR Jordan Leslie, WR Brandon Reilly, WR Lucky Whitehead, WR Shane Wynn, CB Chris Campbell, LB Kennan Gilchrist, LB Manase Hungalu, LB Greer Martini, DB Lardarius Webb
Oakland Raiders
- LB Josh Carraway, DE Anthony Lanier, CB Quinten Rollins
San Francisco 49ers
- RB Matthew Dayes (signed to PS), RB Andre Ellington, RB Jeremy McNichols, RB Shane Vereen, RB Charcandrick West (story), QB Jack Heneghan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- OG Kofi Amichia, WR Jace Billingsley, Fred Brown, Corey Coleman, Damoun Patterson, Austin Proehl, QB Joe Callahan, OT De’Ondre Wesley
Tennessee Titans
- LB B.J. Bello, LB Nigel Harris (signed to PS), LB Tegray Scales
Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/18
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Keith Towbridge
- Released: CB Michael Hunter
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
- Released QB: Connor Cook
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: RB Bo Scarbrough
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Tra Carson, WR Keon Hatcher
- Released: RB Joel Bouagnon
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: CB Lenzy Pipkins
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Pharoah McKever
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed On PS-IR: LB Robert McCray
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: OT Rick Leonard
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Kenneth Farrow
New York Giants
- Signed: K Marshall Koehn
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Matthew Dayes, OL Najee Toran, DB Tyvis Powell
- Released: DB Dexter McCoil, WR Frank Stephens
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Nigel Harris
- Released: OL Coleman Shelton
Chiefs Place LDT, Watts On IR
The Chiefs formally placed guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and defensive back Armani Watts on injured reserve. In a related move, the club brought back outside linebacker Frank Zombo. 
Duvernay-Tardif was injured in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 30-14 win over the Jaguars. As coach Andy Reid explained, the fibula is a non-weight bearing bone, so LDT should be able to heal up before the end of the season. Per league rules, he’ll have to spend at least eight weeks on the sidelines, meaning that he cannot return until Week 14, when the Chiefs face the Ravens. The Chiefs have their bye in Week 12, so Duvernay-Tardif might only miss seven games in total.
Watts, a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, recorded one sack and two total tackles in five games this year. He’s just the latest Chiefs safety to succumb to injury thanks to a groin tear suffered against the Jaguars.
Zombo, 31, appeared in all of the Chiefs’ regular season games between 2013-2017. He started in 27 of those contests for KC and racked up 7.5 sacks for them in total.
Justin Houston Could Miss Multiple Games
The Chiefs’ defense took a noticeable step forward in Sunday’s victory over the Jaguars, but the unit finished the game without its top pass rusher. And that situation may continue for the near future.
Justin Houston suffered a hamstring injury against the Jags, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) this could shelve the eighth-year edge defender for a few weeks. He’s considered “very iffy” to face the Patriots on Sunday night, per Garafolo.
Houston’s issue appears to have the Chiefs looking at free agent outside linebackers, Blair Kerkhoff, Brooke Pryor and Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star report.
Knee issues have been Houston’s biggest problem as an NFLer, keeping him off the field during much of the 2015 and ’16 seasons. He’s played in all five of Kansas City’s wins thus far this season, however. He has three sacks and two forced fumbles, teaming with Dee Ford as starters for the AFC’s lone unbeaten. Ford, who’s off to a strong start himself with four sacks and a forced fumble (which came against Blake Bortles on Sunday) may have to shoulder more responsibility against the Patriots.
The Chiefs invested second-round picks in OLBs the past two years, bringing in Tanoh Kpassagnon in 2017 and trading up to select Breeland Speaks this year. Speaks has played 116 snaps thus far this season.
Kansas City faces AFC North-leading Cincinnati in Week 7. The Chiefs have a home tilt against the Broncos on tap for Week 8. Kansas City’s bye is not until Week 12.
Chiefs Likely To Place Laurent Duvernay-Tardif On IR
Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif suffered a fractured fibula and is likely headed for injured reserve, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a bad blow for the Chiefs, but the good news is that he should be back later in the season. 
Duvernay-Tardif was injured in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 30-14 win over the Jaguars. As coach Andy Reid explained, the fibula is a non-weight bearing bone, so LDT should be able to heal up before the end of the season.
Per league rules, the starting guard will have to spend at least eight weeks on the sidelines, meaning that he cannot return until Week 14, when the Chiefs face the Ravens. The Chiefs have their bye in Week 12, so Duvernay-Tardif might only miss seven games in total.
The Chiefs turned to Jordan Devey after Duvernay-Tardif exited the game, so he’ll probably get the starting nod in his absence. The Chiefs could also consider Andrew Wylie as an option and they’ll likely sign another interior lineman for depth in the coming days.
LDT, a Canadian import, was a sixth-round pick of the Chiefs in 2014. Since then, he has established himself as one of the better guards in the NFL. Last year, the Chiefs locked him up with a five-year, $41.25MM extension which included $14MM guaranteed at signing.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/4/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Justin Zimmer
- Released: DB Taveze Calhoun
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Andre Levrone
- Released: DL Christian LaCouture
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR DeAngelo Yancey
- Released: LB Greer Martini
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Deon Yelder
- Cut: S Leon McQuay
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Quadree Henderson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Bruce Hector
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DT Justin Zimmer
Detroit Lions
- Waived: CB Dee Virgin
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: RB Jeremy McNichols
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DB Josh Shaw
- Waived: TE Alex Ellis
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived from injured reserve: LB Carlos Thompson
Oakland Raiders
- Signed off Titans’ practice squad: OL Ian Silberman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Treyvon Hester
- Waived: DT Bruce Hector
- Waived from injured reserve: OT Toby Weathersby
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB T.J. Green
- Placed on injured reserve: TE Will Dissly (story), S Earl Thomas (story)
- Waived from injured reserve: FB Khalid Hill
Seahawks Dropped Earl Thomas Asking Price Prior To Injury
After a drama-filled offseason, Earl Thomas’ 2018 campaign was cut short due to a broken leg suffered in the Seahawks’ win over the Cardinals this past Sunday. Now, more details are pouring in about Thomas’ status with the team, and a potential trade that was in the works. 
Prior to Thomas’ season-ending injury, the Seahawks dropped their asking price from two second-round picks to one second-round pick for the All-Pro, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. It was reported earlier this morning that the Chiefs were actively engaged in trade talks for Thomas and things got serious enough to where the Chiefs were looking into ways to free up the necessary cap room to take on Thomas’ contract, presumably because of the Seahawks’ reduction in asking price.
It’s a moot point now, but we can glean two things from this bit of news: 1. The Chiefs are very high on Thomas and may profile as suitors for him this offseason and 2. Chiefs GM Brett Veach may be willing to part with considerable draft capital between now and the trade deadline to improve his team. The Chiefs are clearly in win-now mode, and are looking to make a Super Bowl run. Their strong interest in Thomas also shows the team is likely very concerned about the status of All-Pro safety Eric Berry. Berry has yet to play this season as he continues to work his way back from an Achilles injury, and it doesn’t sound like he’ll be suiting up any time soon.
While Thomas was so close to seeing his goal of being traded become a reality, there is some good news for the 29-year-old. Rapoport also reports that the injury is “not expected to effect his free agency negatively.” Thomas’ injury is serious, but is expected to heal fully and not have any lingering impact. Still in his prime, he should still be in for a massive payday next spring.
Chiefs, Seahawks Were Nearing Thomas Deal
Earl Thomas‘ season is over, and so too are his hopes for a trade. But, before the injury, the Chiefs and Seahawks were nearing a blockbuster mid-season swap, according to Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports. 
The Seahawks and Chiefs were unable to reach a deal before their Week 4 games, but there was “internal optimism something would be struck” before the Oct. 31 deadline, Paylor writes. Had they landed Thomas, the Chiefs would have boasted one of the league’s most formidable safety duos with him and Eric Berry (once Berry is healthy), but that dream will have to be put on hold for now.
Given the Chiefs’ aggressiveness in pursuing Thomas, it seems likely that they’ll go hard after him in March, when he hits the free agent market. Thomas’ beloved Cowboys and other contenders will also follow suit, though Thomas’ earning potential may be capped by the stagnating market for veteran safeties.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, will have to move forward without one of their top defenders and it’s improbable that they’ll retain him in 2019. The silver lining is that Thomas’ departure will contribute to their compensatory pick formula and likely land them a third-round choice in 2020.