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Kansas City Chiefs News & Rumors

Chiefs To Add DT Brandon Williams

November 29th, 2022 at 5:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Less than a week after the Eagles raided the veteran defensive tackle market by adding Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh, the Chiefs reached an agreement with another big name.

Kansas City is adding Brandon Williams on a practice squad deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. While Williams will take the increasingly common P-squad route, Schefter notes the intent is for the veteran interior D-lineman to move up to the active roster soon.

The Ravens did not re-sign the nine-year veteran this offseason. An eight-year starter in Baltimore, Williams has not played since last season. While Williams spent his entire NFL career in Baltimore, he played his college ball in Missouri — at Division II Missouri Southern.

Williams, 33, started 114 games with the Ravens from 2014-21. The veteran run-stuffer re-signed with the team on a five-year, $52.5MM contract in 2017 and did well to play out that contract. The Chiefs’ employment of Joe Cullen as their defensive line coach may well have played a role in Tuesday’s addition. Cullen, who spent the 2021 season as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator, coached Williams from 2016-20 as the Ravens’ D-line coach.

In their Chris Jones-fronted D-tackle group, the Chiefs have the recently re-signed Derrick Nnadi, free agent pickup Taylor Stallworth and 2019 third-round pick Khalen Saunders. The team lost third-year contributor Tershawn Wharton to an ACL tear in October.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/28/22

November 28th, 2022 at 4:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s taxi squad moves:

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Chiefs To Sign RB Melvin Gordon To Practice Squad

November 28th, 2022 at 3:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

Melvin Gordon has found his next NFL home, and it will allow him to remain in the AFC West. The veteran running back is joining the Chiefs on their practice squad, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Gordon himself has confirmed the move.

Gordon was waived last week, ending his tenure in Denver on a low note. The 29-year-old’s production had fallen off notably compared to his first two campaigns in the Mile High City, and five lost fumbles made for a significant talking point. As the Broncos’ offense continued to search for answers in the backfield, the two sides parted ways, allowing him to catch on elsewhere to finish the season.

Gordon indicated not long after he went unclaimed that there were multiple teams, including playoff contenders, which were showing interest in him. The AFC-leading Chiefs would certainly qualify as such, with a 9-2 record and the league’s top scoring and total offense. Much of their production has come through the air, however, with the team’s ground game ranking only 19th in the league with an average of 115 yards per game.

Kansas City is also thin in the backfield at the moment with Clyde Edwards-Helaire being placed on IR due to a high ankle sprain. That has cleared the way for the team’s leading rusher, rookie Isiah Pacheco, to continue operating as the lead back. Gordon could provide veteran insurance behind him if, as expected, he finds himself on the active roster soon.

Denver and Kansas City have yet to play each other this season, so Gordon could have two opportunities (in Weeks 14 and 17) to suit up against his former team in much the same way he did as a Bronco against his original employer, the Chargers. How much of a role he has on his third AFC West club could be worth watching as the Chiefs look to go on another deep postseason run.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/26/22

November 26th, 2022 at 4:49pm CST by Ely Allen

The league’s minor moves and standard gameday elevations for Week 12:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Injury Updates: Williams, Toney, Robinson

November 25th, 2022 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Injuries continue to plague wide receiver Mike Williams and the Chargers this 2022 season. After making his way back from a three-week absence, during which he missed two games, Williams left the team’s loss to the Chiefs last week after only six offensive snaps. The setback that took him out early in last week’s game will now officially keep him out for another game as Los Angeles has ruled him out for this week’s matchup against the Cardinals.

In Williams’ absence, the team will likely go with the same wide receiver mixture they did when he left last week. Keenan Allen will lead the receiving corps alongside Josh Palmer and DeAndre Carter while also getting some reserve snaps from Michael Bandy.

It was originally expected that Williams would miss four games, after the initial diagnosis of his high ankle sprain. Counting last week as an absence, this week will be his fourth missed game, hopefully giving him the rest he needs to help the Chargers make a playoff push.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the league, starting with another injured wide receiver in the AFC West:

  • Second-year receiver Kadarius Toney has been ruled out for this week’s matchup against the Rams. Toney suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the team’s win over the Chargers last week. The former first-round pick missed seven games over his rookie season with the Giants, missing five more games due to a Week 2 injury this season before his eventual trade to the Chiefs. This will be Toney’s first missed game as a Chief, a trend that Kansas City fans will hope ends here. The good news is that the team expects JuJu Smith-Schuster to return from a concussion that held him out of last week’s game. Smith-Schuster should start alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling with Justin Watson and Skyy Moore providing off the bench.
  • Rams starting defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn meniscus, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The stout run-defender had really found a home on the Rams’ line alongside Greg Gaines and Aaron Donald but Los Angeles will need to figure things out without him for the rest of the year. Marquise Copeland‘s name was called last week when Robinson left the game in New Orleans. Michael Hoecht is usually the next name off the bench while Bobby Brown III and Jonah Williams each rotate in for short periods, as well. Copeland is expected to take on Robinson’s role for the remainder of the season, though.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/23/22

November 23rd, 2022 at 5:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s taxi squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: QB Case Cookus

Pittsburgh Steelers

Chiefs Place Clyde Edwards-Helaire On IR, Activate T Lucas Niang From PUP List

November 23rd, 2022 at 4:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Clyde Edwards-Helaire‘s third NFL season has skidded off track. In addition to losing his starting job recently, the former first-round pick suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday night.

The Chiefs will move forward without Edwards-Helaire in the near future, having placed him on IR. This will shut down CEH for at least four weeks. Kansas City had already changed the LSU alum’s role, though this certainly does impact the AFC West kingpins’ depth.

Coming into this season, Edwards-Helaire — thanks partially to Damien Williams‘ 2020 opt-out — had started every NFL game in which he played. But injuries led to the college dual threat missing 10 regular-season games and two playoff tilts. Edwards-Helaire then took a backseat to Jerick McKinnon upon returning from his second 2021 injury — a shoulder issue — in the postseason. CEH had already sustained an MCL sprain earlier in 2021; he missed time due to ankle and hip maladies in 2020.

McKinnon re-signed midway through this offseason, but the Chiefs have begun using seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco over both vets. Pacheco has totaled 31 carries over the Chiefs’ past two games. Edwards-Helaire was on the field for four offensive snaps during the Chiefs’ Week 10 win over the Jaguars, and his injury against the Chargers stands to set him back further.

The 5-foot-8 back has gained 302 rushing yards on 71 carries this season. While extended absences are not new for the former No. 32 overall pick, Pacheco’s presence has changed the Chiefs’ backfield equation. This injury also opens the door for Ronald Jones resurfacing. The offseason addition has not dressed for a game yet as a Chief but remains on their 53-man roster. Andy Reid said (via ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher) the former Buccaneers starter has a chance to play, though he cited multiple issues that may deter Jones from seeing a backfield role.

With CEH out and McKinnon having two full-season injury absences on his resume, the Chiefs suddenly may need Jones, whom they signed to a one-year, $1.5MM deal.

Additionally, the Chiefs activated Lucas Niang from the reserve/PUP list. The team’s right tackle to open last season, Niang suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in Week 17 of last season. The former third-round pick has not been available much during his KC career. He opted out of the 2020 season and has now missed 15 regular-season games since. The Chiefs have used veteran Andrew Wylie primarily at right tackle this year. Niang, who made nine starts as a rookie, could potentially make a late-season push for playing time on the Chiefs’ otherwise-solidified front.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/19/22

November 19th, 2022 at 8:05pm CST by Ely Allen

The league’s minor moves leading up to gameday:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed to active roster: TE Nick Muse
  • Promoted from practice squad: CB Tay Gowan
  • Waived: OLB Benton Whitley

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Washington Commanders

Chiefs Place WR Mecole Hardman On IR

November 18th, 2022 at 9:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Andy Reid said Hardman’s IR stint is viewed as “short-term,” as opposed to season-ending (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star). That will be welcomed news for the Chiefs when they look to get healthy at the skill positions towards the end of the regular season.

NOVEMBER 17: Mecole Hardman‘s absence will extend to at least five games. After missing the Chiefs’ Week 10 matchup against the Jaguars, the fourth-year wide receiver is now on IR.

An abdominal injury will sideline Hardman, who has delivered some key contributions for the perennial AFC West kingpins this season. He will be eligible to return in Week 15.

The Chiefs have made numerous changes at receiver this year; Hardman resided as the only constant. Kansas City traded Tyreek Hill and let Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle walk in free agency. The team signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and drafted Skyy Moore in Round 2. Former Giants first-round pick Kadarius Toney is now on the team, with the Chiefs having traded third- and sixth-round picks to land the mercurial speedster.

Hardman, 24, arrived as a second-round pick during a window in which it was far from certain if Hill would play for the Chiefs again. Hill did, in fact, return from his second major scandal. With the world-class speed merchant in the fold, Hardman delivered an inconsistent first three seasons. This year, however, the auxiliary playmaker has six touchdowns in eight games; he scored three against the 49ers in Week 7. Hardman has totaled 328 scrimmage yards in his contract year.

This injury blunts Hardman’s momentum; his return late this season stands to be important for his long-term prospects. As this year’s bevy of receiver trades helped show, next year’s free agent market is not exactly teeming with prime talent. Smith-Schuster, Allen Lazard, Jakobi Meyers and Parris Campbell are on track to be the top names available. A lighter market would give Hardman, who has a returner Pro Bowl nod on his resume, a chance to score a nice payday. How the Georgia alum finishes his contract year will help cement his value.

The Chiefs are also uncertain to have Smith-Schuster in Week 11. Their leading wide receiver suffered a concussion after an over-the-middle collision against Jacksonville. Kansas City being without Hardman and Smith-Schuster would stand to give Toney, who has dealt with numerous injuries in his short pro career, a bigger role in his third game as a Chief. Toney totaled 90 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in Week 10.

Chiefs Rule Out WR JuJu Smith-Schuster For Week 11

November 18th, 2022 at 2:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs will be shorthanded at wideout when they take the field Sunday night in Los Angeles. JuJu Smith-Schuster has been ruled out for Week 11, per a team announcement.

Smith-Schuster suffered a concussion last week, and has been unable to clear the league’s protocol in time to suit up against the Chargers. This will mark the first missed contest of the season for the 25-year-old, putting his successful debut season in Kanas City on hold.

Long connected to the Chiefs, Smith-Schuster made the move from Pittsburgh to Kansas City this offseason. He inked a modest one-year, $3.76MM deal in March, but it has worked out very well to date. The former second-rounder has 615 yards on the year, which leads all wideouts on the team and ranks second only to tight end Travis Kelce. He has averaged 13.4 yards per catch – the second-highest figure of his career and a marked improvement over his past two seasons with the Steelers – while scoring a pair of touchdowns.

The news is especially troublesome for the Chiefs since Mecole Hardman was placed on IR yesterday due to an abdominal injury. Kansas City leads the league with an average of 326 passing yards per game, but they will now turn to speedsters Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney as their focal points on the perimeter. The latter, a recent trade acquisition from the Giants, scored his first career touchdown last week in just his second contest as a Chief.

Like Hardman, Smith-Schuster’s absence also comes with free agency looming this spring. The latter should miss less time given the nature of their respective injuries, but the team’s primetime game against the Chargers could now be more complicated from an offensive standpoint. That, in turn, will add further intrigue to what will already be a key game affecting the top of the AFC West.

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