Chiefs are making final roster cuts: Here’s The Star’s live tracker of who didn’t make it
With the final preseason game wrapped up, the Chiefs’ brass are faced with the task of cutting the 90-man roster down to 53 by 3 p.m. Saturday. Here’s The Star’s running tracker of those cuts with some analysis.
3:48 p.m.: The Chiefs have released the final list of cuts. Among some of the more surprising cuts that weren’t previously reported :
- WR Jehu Chesson
- TE Jace Amaro
- S Leon McQuay
With Chesson and Amaro out, that means that wide receiver Marcus Kemp and tight end Alex Ellis made the roster. Chesson was a solid special teams player, but Kemp may have been a bit more well-rounded at wide receiver. De’Anthony Thomas, a speedy returner, got the other final receiver spot. Ellis got into the last preseason game ahead of Amaro, a potential signal to his status with the team on Thursday. McQuay, who started the last three preseason games, was likely bumped off with the addition of S Jordan Lucas on Thursday night. Another move will likley be made after the addition of free safety Ron Parker is finalized.
Other observations
- The Chiefs decided to keep a third quarterback on the roster, choosing veteran Matt McGloin over rookie Chase Litton. McGloin, who spent last year with the Texans and four seasons with the Raiders, took over for backup Chad Henne after one series in the final preseason game. He completed 10 of 18 attempts for 127 yards and a touchdown. McGloin’s best pass of the night came on a 62-yard connection with rookie wide receiver Byron Pringle.
- KC is opting to keep nine offensive linemen: Mitch Morse, Mitchell Schwartz, Eric Fisher, Cam Erving, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Andrew Wylie, Jordan Devey, Bryan Witzmann and rookie draft pick Kahlil McKenzie.
- Undrafted rookie Ben Neimann is the Chiefs’ preseason surprise. The Iowa product had a standout preseason, including a pick-six against Atlanta, and he was rewarded with a roster spot. His inclusion bumped Ukeme Eligwe from the roster. The inside linebacker position group includes: Terrance Smith, Dorian O’Daniel, Reggie Ragland, Anthony Hitchens and Neimann. The Chiefs kept just four outside linebackers: Justin Houston, Breeland Speaks, Dee Ford, Tanoh Kpassagnon.
- The Chiefs elected to put just one player on injured reserve so far: rookie WR Byron Pringle. The Kansas State product injured his hamstring late in Thursday night’s preseason game. Safety Daniel Sorensen (leg) wasn’t included in the list.
3:04 p.m.: The final roster should be out any minute, but a source told The Star that rookie offensive lineman Bentley Spain has been released. Spain, an undrafted UNC product, had a good camp, but battled through injuries. He’s a versatile lineman who could be a good candidate for a practice squad spot if he clears waivers.
3:00 p.m.: The Chiefs have waived rookie quarterback Chase Litton, a source told The Star. An undrafted Marshall product, Litton had a solid camp and is a good practice squad candidate if he clears waivers. Litton played in the second half of the Chiefs’ preseason finale and completed 13 of 21 attempts for 166 yards. Through three preseason appearances, Litton completed 24 of 41 passes for 299 yards and a touchdown. With Litton’s release, veteran quarterback Matt McGloin will likely land on the 53-man roster.
2:44 p.m. : Outside linebacker Tyrone Holmes has been cut, a source tells The Star. A 6-foot-2, 253-pound former sixth-round pick of Jacksonville in 2016, Holmes signed with the Chiefs as a practice squad member in December after having been with the Cleveland Browns. With the Chiefs having cut veteran Frank Zombo, Robert McCray and Holmes, it appears they may go into the season with just four outside linebackers on the roster. That’s an interesting choice with it appearing that Ukeme Eligwe was a victim of a numbers crunch at inside linebacker. The expectation was that the Chiefs would keep 10 linebackers, but Davison, Eligwe and Peters have already cut from the roster. Perhaps the Chiefs are looking at keeping nine linebackers to create flexibility elsewhere or for future moves.
2:28 p.m.: Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill has been released, according to a league source. McGill was in his first training camp with the Chiefs after spending a season in Cleveland and two in Indianapolis. McGill had four sacks in the final preseason game, but he never cracked the two-deep in a position group that also included Chris Jones, Justin Hamilton, Allen Bailey and Jarvis Jenkins.
2:20 p.m.: The Chiefs have released rookie corner D’Montre Wade, but he’s planning to sign with the practice squad, a source told The Star.
2:12 p.m.: The Chiefs made their first truly surprising roster cut with the release of inside linebacker Ukeme Eligwe, a source confirmed to The Star. With a swollen knee keeping Reggie Ragland out of the first part of training camp, Eligwe got lots of work in with the first team defense. He also started the fourth preseason game against the Packers. Eligwe, taken by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2017 draft, got his first start Week 17 against Denver. With his release, KC is likely choosing to go with linebacker Terrance Smith. Smith had an unremarkable preseason and missed the final preseason game with a groin injury. But coach Andy Reid said the team had enough tape on Smith to make a decision. Undrafted rookie Ben Neimann also had a standout camp and preseason, also likely contributing to Eligwe’s release.
1:57 p.m.: Veteran safety Ron Parker is expected to sign a deal to return to the Chiefs, per a source. Parker tweeted out a message indicating a return was imminent. A person familiar with the situation tells The Star that a deal has not been finalized, but Parker should be back with the team and wearing number 38 again. Parker spent the previous five seasons with the Chiefs and started all but one game from the start of the 2014 season through the 2017 season. Parker, entering his eighth NFL season, signed with Atlanta in June after being cut by the Chiefs. Atlanta cut Parker on Friday after trading to acquire veteran safety Jordan Richards in a trade. The Chiefs had reason for concern at safety with Eric Berry coming off of a season-ending injury and having not played this preseason due to what the team called heel soreness. Daniel Sorensen, who started opposite Parker after Berry’s injury, suffered a knee injury during training camp and is likely to start the season on IR.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There is no place like home <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KC38?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KC38</a></p>— Ron Parker (@ghost_0836) <a href="https://twitter.com/ghost_0836/status/1035960788165509122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
1:37 p.m.: Cornerback David Amerson has been released, a source told The Star. Amerson had a steady training camp, but he faltered in preseason games when he was frequently picked on by opposing quarterbacks. Amerson, who signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs after being released by the Raiders in February, particularly struggled to cover rookie Javon Wims in the third preseason game against Chicago. He gave up both a 54-yard pass and a touchdown in that game.
Amerson, selected in the second round of the 2013 draft by Washington, looked to be heading out the door in recent days when the Chiefs made trades to acquire corner Charvarius Ward and safety Jordan Lucas from Dallas and Miami, respectively. With Amerson’s departure, the final cornerback group will likely be Kendall Fuller, Steven Nelson, Orlando Scandrick, Tremon Smith and Ward.
1:20 p.m. : Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Tejan Koroma out of BYU is expected to be placed on IR, a source tells The Star. Koroma suffered an ACL injury during training camp in St. Joseph and was carted off of the practice field. He had surgery in August. He was thought to have been in the mix to compete as a backup center prior to the injury. He’s expected to remain on IR the entire season.
1:05 p.m.: Rookie wide receiver Byron Pringle is heading to IR. Pringle, who had a stellar game against the Packers, injured his hamstring in the third quarter after hauling in four catches for 122 yards. Pringle, a Kansas State product who went undrafted, made a lasting impression in camp and made a difference when he got action in the preseason games.
1:00 p.m.: Some good news from roster cut Saturday: rookie running back Darrel Williams has made the 53-man roster, according to NFL.com’s Herbie Teope. Williams had a strong camp and finished the final preseason game with 41 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown catch. His presence likely gives the Chiefs five running backs: Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams, Spencer Ware, Anthony Sherman and Darrel Williams.
12:50 p.m.: Undrafted rookies wide receiver Jordan Smallwood, defensive lineman Dee Liner and linebacker Rob McCray have been released, sources told The Star. Smallwood, an OU product, never distinguished himself in camp, while Liner and McCray are a good candidate for the practice squad. Liner, who played at Arkansas State, had a tackle in the third preseason game. He was listed as the third right side defensive end on the Chiefs’ most recent preseason depth chart. McCray, out of Indiana, had a big sack of Packers’ backup Tim Boyle and two quarterback hurries in the final preseason game.
12:35 p.m. : The Chiefs have cut rookie cornerback Arrion Springs, but do have interest in signing him to the practice squad, per a source. Chiefs Digest first reported the move. Springs, who signed as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon, had a strong rookie camp but the team has continued to add players to the cornerback position the preseason. After acquiring Kendall Fuller via trade during the offseason, the Chiefs added David Amerson as a free agent, drafted Tremon Springs, signed Orlando Scandrick during camp and recently traded Parker Ehinger to Dallas in exchange for Charvarius Ward. It’s not a done deal that Springs clears waivers, which he would need to do before the Chiefs could add him to the practice squad. The Chiefs may not be the only organization interested in adding him as a practice squad player as other teams have expressed interest, according to a person familiar with the situation.
12:15 p.m.: The Chiefs have released outside linebacker Frank Zombo, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. Zombo has been with the Chiefs since 2013, and started nine games last season. But with up-and-coming linebackers Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon to backup Justin Houston and Dee Ford, Zombo didn’t get much work in preseason games.
11:20 p.m.: The Chiefs have cut wide receiver Daniel Braverman and linebacker Raymond Davison, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Braverman, a seventh-round pick by the Bears in 2016, and Davison, an undrafted rookie, were both buried in the depth chart in their respective position groups. Davison had two tackles in the preseason finale against the Packers.
Saturday, 10 a.m.: After a quiet-ish Friday, the Chiefs’ cuts are starting to roll in Saturday morning. One of the early ones is cornerback Keith Reaser, according to a report from Pro Football Talk.
Reaser, who entered the league as a fifth round pick in 2015 by the 49ers, spent most of last season on the Chiefs’ practice squad and appeared in the Week 17 game in Denver. Reaser suffered a quad injury on July 29 and missed the final 10 days of training camp in St. Joseph. With his absence during the bulk of camp, Reaser isn’t an unexpected cut.
6 p.m.: More help is on the way for the secondary. The Chiefs announced a trade with Miami for safety Jordan Lucas. In exchange, KC is sending an undisclosed draft pick to the Dolphins. Lucas, a sixth-round 2016 draft pick from Penn State, played in 19 games over two seasons in Miami, and spent time on the practice squad. He also got on the field frequently in special teams. He played in three preseason games this year, including the finale against Atlanta where he had a 15-yard interception, a sack and three tackles.
Adding Lucas further shakes up the group of secondary players vying for a spot on the 53-man roster, but it also gives the safeties depth with the ongoing absence of Eric Berry (heel). Less than 24 hours before the Lucas trade, the Chiefs traded lineman Parker Ehinger to Dallas for cornerback Charvarius Ward. The Chiefs will likely keep 10 defensive backs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll do five corners and five safeties. A source familiar with the situation told The Star the Chiefs could keep six corners and four safeties, especially with the eventual return of injured safety Dan Sorensen. Could this addition push rookie safety Arrion Springs, corner David Amerson or another DB off the roster? We’ll know by 3 p.m. Saturday.
4:30 p.m.: Linebacker Otha Peters’ representatives, Icon Sports Consulting, announced on Twitter that Peters had been waived by the Chiefs on Friday. Peters also tweeted “Back to the Grind!”
A 6-foot tall, 238-pound product of Louisiana-Lafayette, Peters signed as with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 2017 before being released and landing on Washington’s practice squad. Washington activated him in December, and he appeared in three games last season. Peters became a casualty of a deep inside linebacker group that included projected starters Reggie Ragland and Anthony Hitchens, draft pick Dorian O’Daniel, returners Terrance Smith and Ukeme Eligwe as well as undrafted free agent Ben Niemann. Niemann had an impressive camp and preseason, and he looks like a strong candidate to make the 53-man roster.
1:00 p.m.: Cuts haven’t been made quite yet, but coach Andy Reid dropped some clues in his Friday afternoon conference calls about the position groups that may present some of the toughest decisions.
“As far as the cuts go, we’re right in the middle of all that,” Reid said. “We’re trying to sort everything out and do that. I was impressed with the way the guys played yesterday, especially with extended time. They were able to get in and show on special teams and on offense and defense, which was good. There were some tired bodies at the end of that. But they got a lot of good work.“
On cornerback David Amerson and his need to show improvement after the Chicago loss: “We’ll just see how everything goes down. I don’t really have anything other than that to say. We’ll just see how everything rolls here in the next couple of days and go with it. I thought he worked hard last week and did some decent things. He’s trying to work on the things that he needs to play in this defense.”
On the inside linebacker battle and Terrance Smith’s absence from Thursday night’s game: “We kind of know what Terrance is. He had a lot of snaps up to that point. He had been battling a little bit of a groin, so I just backed him off. Got pretty good tape on him and feel for him for what he is. I thought it was a good time for him to heal up here, just a little bit. He hasn’t missed anything, but he’s battling a little bit of a groin.
“Then it gave these young guys a chance to play. We were able to get them in and get extended reps on them. The (Ben) Neimanns, the (Dorian) O’Daniels, (Ukeme) Eligwe. Eligwe started, and again, we have enough tape on him. We gave him a shot though, at the beginning. And Peters. Davison, all of that. We were able to get in and get a chance to look at these young guys, maybe the ones that don’t have as many snaps on them and/or need experience. That was a good thing.”
On the possibility of keeping three or four quarterbacks: ”Probably be possible (to keep all four). I’m not sure I’ve ever done it with two quarterbacks, but we’ll just see how the numbers game goes here. You’ve got to kind of juggle a few things. Both of them did a pretty good job last night, which was a positive. Really all three of them did. They did a pretty good job.”
On the possibility of a young second-string offensive line: “I think we have enough veteran guys in there to counter everything, I feel. And so, a young guy here or there isn’t going to disrupt that. Some of those younger guys played better than some of the other younger guys. That’s a place where we’re going to have to make some decisions.”
On rookie running back Darrel Williams: ”We’ll see how that goes. He’s worked hard, just I think you’re pretty accurate. We’ll just see how all of that shakes you. You’re kind of hitting the spots, where the things that we’re looking at. The numbers game is the important thing. We’ve got to juggle the whole team though, that’s tough.”
Brooke Pryor
Brooke Pryor covers the Kansas City Chiefs and NFL for The Star.
Lynn Worthy
Lynn Worthy covers the Kansas City Chiefs and NFL for The Star.
This story was originally published August 31, 2018 at 1:24 PM.