Chiefs Cut 34 Players, Settle On 53-Man Roster
The defending AFC champs have set their 53-man roster. The Chiefs announced the following moves:
Released:
- LB Cole Christiansen
- S Mike Edwards
- DT Mike Pennel
- TE Robert Tonyan
- DT Marlon Tuipulotu
Waived:
- WR Elijhah Badger
- DE Owen Carney
- CB Ajani Carter
- OT Dalton Cooper
- S Jacobe Covington
- WR Mac Dalena
- OT Chukwuebuka Godrick
- G C.J. Hanson
- CB Azizi Hearn
- WR Jimmy Holiday
- DT Coziah Izzard
- LB Cam Jones
- CB Kevin Knowles
- C Joey Lombard
- DT Fabien Lovett
- DE Nate Matlack
- S Glendon Miller
- LB Xander Mueller
- QB Chris Oladokun
- OT Esa Pole
- WR Hal Presley
- WR Key’Shawn Smith
- CB Melvin Smith
- TE Geor’Quarius Spivey
- RB Carson Steele
- TE Tre Watson
- RB Michael Wiley
- S Major Williams
- QB Bailey Zappe
Placed on reserve/NFI:
Placed on injured reserve:
Placed on injured reserve (designated for return):
On the defensive side of the ball, Cam Jones was a somewhat surprising cut after getting into all 34 games for the Chiefs over the past two years. A former UDFA, Jones has seen the majority of his playing time on special teams, but he still got into 161 defensive snaps for Kansas City between 2023 and 2024. Over the span, the linebacker has collected 36 tackles. The team also moved on from veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel, who started seven of his 17 appearances for Kansas City in 2024.
On the other side of the ball, the team dropped 2024 preseason standout Carson Steele. The UCLA product had a brief chance to show his stuff immediately following Isiah Pacheco‘s injury, but a persistent fumbling issue had him tumbling down the depth chart. Steele ultimately finished his rookie season with 209 yards from scrimmge on 63 touches.
Chiefs To Place Felix Anudike-Uzomah On IR
Felix Anudike-Uzomah‘s third NFL season has ended before it began. The Chiefs will moved him to injured reserve, per a team announcement.
A strained hamstring will result in this move. Earlier today, head coach Andy Reid noted (via ESPN’s Nate Tice) that taking the IR route was a consideration. Now that it is official, Anudike-Uzomah will be sidelined for the entire campaign.
The 2023 first-rounder played a full 17 games during his rookie campaign, adding one playoff appearance along the way. Anudike-Uzomah logged just a 20% snap share that season, but his workload increased in 2024 (a campaign which also did not include any missed time). The 23-year-old saw his usage rate jump to 31%, and he produced 2.5 sacks along with 10 QB pressures.
Another step forward could have been in store for 2025. Instead, Anudike-Uzomah will turn his attention to recovery while the Chiefs move on to other options along the edge. The Kansas State product is attached to his rookie contract through 2026, with a decision on his fifth-year option needing to be made this spring. Obviously, today’s news is a strong indication the option will be declined.
Kansas City’s defensive end depth chart will once again be led by George Karlaftis in 2025 but also many years to come. He agreed to a four-year extension last month, and the big-ticket accord ensures he will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu are holdovers from last season, and they combined to record 4.5 sacks in 2024. That tandem’s availability (along with that of Karlaftis, of course) will be crucial for the reigning AFC champions given today’s news.
Third-round rookie Ashton Gillotte could be in position to take an increased role with Anudike-Uzomah out of the picture for 2025. If Kansas City intends to pursue a veteran addition to compensate for the latter’s absences, a signing could be feasible. The Chiefs have nearly $17MM in cap space at the moment. With roster cuts approaching, a decision will need to be made on whether or not using those funds will be necessary while shorthanded along the edge.
The team also waived undrafted running back Elijah Young. Free agent signings defensive end Owen Carney and linebacker Xander Mueller (undrafted out of Northwestern) will fill the vacant roster spots of Anudike-Uzomah and Young.
Chiefs Waive 12 Players
The Chiefs have started to trim their roster, with the team announcing that they’ve waived the following 12 players:
- CB Miles Battle
- QB Ian Book
- CB Ekow Boye-Doe
- WR Phillip Brooks
- DE Owen Carney
- DT Alex Gubner
- CB Kelvin Joseph
- G Griffin McDowell
- LS Randen Plattner
- WR Kyle Sheets
- TE Geor’quarius Spivey
- G Nick Torres
Kelvin Joseph‘s brief stint in Kansas City has already come to an end. The former second-round pick disappointed during his time in Dallas, starting only three of his 26 appearances through two seasons. He was traded to Miami last August but only got into four games with his new squad before earning his walking papers. He ended the campaign with the Seahawks, and in total, he finished the 2023 campaign having appeared in only five games. Joseph signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chiefs back in January but didn’t do enough during the preseason to earn a spot on the opening 53-man roster.
Ian Book joined the Chiefs via a reserve/futures contract back in January, but he wasn’t able to pass Chris Oladokun as the organization’s QB3 behind Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz. Book hasn’t seen the field since his one-start cameo with the Saints in 2021, although he’s continued to get jobs from the Eagles and Patriots.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/24
Today’s minor moves to wrap up the week:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Devin Carter, TE Feleipe Franks, CB Kiondre Thomas
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: WR Cam Sims
- Reverted to IR: DT Popo Aumavae
- Waived: T Christian Duffie, S Clayton Isbell, WR Sam Pinckney
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks, WR Hakeem Butler, P Ryan Rehkow
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB Corey Ballentine, T Caleb Jones
- Activated from active/PUP list: OL Donovan Jennings
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OLB Owen Carney
- Waived: LB Luquay Washington
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: CB Derion Kendrick (story)
- Placed on reserve/retired list: DT Aaron Donald (story)
New England Patriots
- Waived: CB Kaleb Ford-Dement
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from active/NFI list: WR Shaquan Davis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Marquise Blair
- Waived: S Jonathan Sutherland
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Salvatore Cannella
Blair reunites with the Seahawks after two years away. A former second-round pick for Seattle, Blair spent parts of 2022 with the Panthers and Eagles before spending last year out with an Achilles tear.
Cannella, who formerly went by Sal, played for the Arlington Renegades of the UFL earlier this year, leading the league with six receiving touchdowns and finishing first among tight ends with 53 catches and 497 yards. He’s been in an out of the NFL with stints in the USFL and XFL before; the Bucs are hoping this time will stick.
Bengals Reduce Roster To 53, Place T La’el Collins On Reserve/PUP List
The Bengals have worked their way down to the 53-man roster limit. Here are the moves made on Tuesday to finalize their initial squad:
Released:
- TE Tanner Hudson
- CB Sidney Jones
- WR Stanley Morgan
- QB Trevor Siemian
- WR Trent Taylor
- S Michael Thomas
Waived:
- OT Hakeem Adeniji
- TE Devin Asiasi
- TE Nick Bowers
- S Larry Brooks
- G Ben Brown
- DE Owen Carney
- WR Malachi Carter
- P Drue Chrisman
- S Yusuf Corker
- DT Domenique Davis
- CB Allan George
- C Nate Gilliam
- DE Jeff Gunter
- LB Shaka Heyward
- WR Mac Hippenhammer
- WR Shedrick Jackson
- DE Raymond Johnson III
- LB Keandre Jones
- G Jaxson Kirkland
- WR Kwamie Lassiter II
- LB Jaylen Moody
- LB Tyler Murray
- HB Jacob Saylors
- QB Reid Sinnett
- TE Christian Trahan
- RB Calvin Tyler Jr.
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Placed on IR:
- DT Tautala Pesefea Jr.
- CB Marvell Tell III
Collins will miss at least the first four weeks of the season given his PUP designation. The former Cowboy signed a three-year, $21MM deal in free agency last offseason to operate as Cincinnati’s right tackle starter. His play in his debut season was underwhelming, however, and that role will belong to Jonah Williams this season, unless the latter misses time or Collins usurps him on the depth chart. A knee injury is to blame for Collins’ missed time, per the team.
Both Pesefea and Tell will miss the entire season, as is the case for all players placed on IR before being named to the initial 53-man roster. They will either remain with the organization during the campaign, or be released via an injury settlement which would allow them to find a new opportunity elsewhere.
Jones represents a more experienced cut than most of the other players let go. The former second-rounder has 57 games and 27 starts to his name, and he split his time between the Seahawks and Raiders last season. Moving on from Jones further signals the team’s intention of relying on younger options like Cam Taylor-Britt and rookies DJ Turner and DJ Ivey in the secondary.
Losing Adeniji (unless he clears waivers and is retained via the practice squad, as will no doubt be the case for many of the players listed above) would leave the Bengals thin along the O-line, especially in light of the Collins news. The 2020 sixth-rounder has experience at multiple positions up front, but his level of play has been a contributing factor in the team’s urgency in pursuing free agent blockers in recent years.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/31/23
Here are today’s reserve/futures contracts handed out:
Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Nick Bowers, QB Jake Browning, DE Owen Carney, OT Devin Cochran, S Yusuf Corker, DT Domenique Davis, G Nate Gilliam, TE Tanner Hudson, DE Raymond Johnson, LB Keandre Jones, WR Kwamie Lassiter, CB Marvell Tell
New York Jets
San Francisco 49ers
- DL Alex Barrett, OL Alfredo Gutierrez, S Tayler Hawkins, OL Keith Ismael, DB Qwuantrezz Knight, WR Tay Martin, WR Dazz Newsome, OL Jason Poe, LB Curtis Robinson, T Leroy Watson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: S Adrian Colbert
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Owen Carney, WR Tyron Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Tae Davis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DB Lamar Jackson
- Released: WR Kaden Davis, RB Tyreik McAllister
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Jarren Williams
- Released: WR Josh Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Nick Guggemos
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Kenny Young
- Placed on IR: OL Drew Desjarlais
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Devery Hamilton, LB Quincy Roche, DB Trenton Thompson
- Released: WR Robert Foster
New York Jets
- Signed: S Kai Nacua, RB Jonathan Ward
- Released: WR Diontae Spencer, DL Marquiss Spencer
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: RB Kennedy Brooks, T Roderick Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DE Renell Wren
- Released: WR Josh Malone
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Kemoko Turay
- Released: CB Ka’dar Hollman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB J.J. Russell
- Activated from IR: CB Anthony Chesley
- Released: DL Khalil Davis, CB Quandre Mosely
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Reggie Roberson Jr.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/22
Teams have until 3pm Tuesday to slash their rosters from 80 to 53 players. Here are the Monday moves teams are making en route to doing so. The list will be updated throughout the day.
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: CB Jace Whittaker, S James Wiggins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Darrell Baker
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: C Jimmy Murray
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: OL Jacob Capra, DE Daniel Joseph, DB Jordan Miller, OL Tanner Owen, WR Neil Pau’u, DB Josh Thomas
Chicago Bears
- Waived: S Jon Alexander, C Corey Dublin, WR Kevin Shaa
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: DE Chris Odom (story)
- Released: WR Javon Wims
- Waived: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, DT Glen Logan, S Jovante Moffatt, T Ben Petrula, DE Curtis Weaver
Denver Broncos
- Waived: CB Bless Austin, LB Jeremiah Gemmel, OL Sebastian Gutierrez, RB JaQuan Hardy
- Waived/injured: CB Donnie Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Released: QB Tim Boyle
- Waived: CB Mark Gilbert, WR Tom Kennedy, WR Kalil Pimpleton, CB Saivion Smith
Houston Texans
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Chester Rogers
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: QB Jack Coan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: S Rudy Ford, K.C. McDermott
- Waived: LB Tyrell Adams, DL Auzoyah Alufohai, RB Ryquell Armstead, CB Benjie Franklin, DB Brandon Rusnak, LB Chapelle Russell, OL Badara Traore
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Emeke Egbule, TE Sage Surratt
Miami Dolphins
- Released: OL Adam Pankey
- Waived: OL Blaise Andries, DL Owen Carney Jr., RB Gerrid Doaks, CB Elijah Hamilton, LB Darius Hodge, DT Niles Scott, RB ZaQuandre White, CB Quincy Wilson
- Placed on IR: LB Calvin Munson
- Waived/injured: CB D’Angelo Ross
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: CB Tye Smith
- Placed on IR: WR Olabisi Johnson (story), DL T.Y. McGill
- Waived: WR Myron Mitchell, T Timon Parris
New York Giants
- Waived: DB Yusuf Corker, WR Keelan Doss, DB Olaijah Griffin, OL Josh Rivas, K Ryan Santoso, OL Eric Smith, WR Travis Toivonen
New York Jets
- Waived: DE Bradlee Anae, WR Irvin Charles, CB Javelin Guidry, WR Calvin Jackson Jr., RB La’Mical Perine, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, QB Chris Streveler
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: CB Josh Blackwell, QB Carson Strong, OL Cameron Tom, DT Renell Wren
- Waived/injured: WR Greg Ward
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: DL Ron’Dell Carter, CB Linden Stephens, TE Jace Sternberger
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: CB Ken Crawley
- Waived: OL Dohnovan West
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Andre Anthony, WR Jerreth Sterns
Tennessee Titans
- Released: S Adrian Colbert
- Waived: S Tyree Gillespie, OL Willie Wright
Washington Commanders
- Waived: DT Tyler Clark, DE Jacub Panasiuk, DB Steven Parker
Dolphins Announce 14-Man UDFA Class
After only adding four rookies through the 2022 Draft, the Dolphins signed a 14-man undrafted free agent class:
- Blaise Andries, OL (Minnesota)
- Owen Carney, DL (Illinois)
- Ty Clary, OL (Arkansas)
- Tanner Conner, TE (Idaho State)
- Kellen Diesch, OT (Arizona State)
- Elijah Hamilton, CB (Louisiana Tech)
- Tommy Heatherly, P (Florida International)
- Deandre Johnson, OLB (Miami)
- Kader Kohou, CB (Texas A&M-Commerce)
- Verone McKinley, S (Oregon)
- Braylon Sanders, WR (Ole Miss)
- Ben Stille, DL (Nebraska)
- ZaQuandre White, RB (South Carolina)
- Jordan Williams, DT (Virginia Tech)
Miami was able to add some potential gems for their offensive line, bringing in two four-year starters from the Big Ten and SEC in Andries and Clary. They also made sure to bring in Diesch, a two-year starter for the Sun Devils after transferring from Texas A&M, signing him with a guaranteed amount of $140,000, according the Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus.
The Dolphins also think they’ve uncovered a diamond in the rough out of northeast Texas. They signed Kohou out of Texas A&M-Commerce with a guaranteed amount of $130,000, according to Kyed.
Miami will also keep some prospects close to home. Johnson transferred from Tennessee to spend his last year of college close to home with the Hurricanes. Heatherly isn’t a Florida native, but he spent the last three years of college in Miami at Florida International.