For Chiefs riding roster bubble, preseason finale presents last chance to latch on
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs' final preseason game serves as key evaluation for roster hopefuls
- General manager Brett Veach will trim roster from 90 players down to 53
- Deep position battles, injuries and pending suspension complicate decisions
The Chiefs may be approaching their final preseason game differently than past years, with first-team players getting the starting nod. But that doesn’t change the importance of the event to those who are lower on the depth chart.
It’s their final opportunity to impress.
“Everybody can’t make the team,” coach Andy Reid said. “They know that. I tell them that on Day 1 just make our job hard. Make it hard for Veach and his crew and the coaches to get rid of them.”
“Veach” is general manager Brett Veach, who, in the days after Friday’s contest against the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, will oversee the process of trimming the team’s roster.
The Chiefs must cut down from 90 players to a final 53 while also putting together a practice squad and keeping an eye on the waiver wire for potential trade opportunities.
Each NFL team’s 53-man roster must be finalized by Tuesday at 3 p.m. Central Time.
“It’s a tough day,” Reid said. “That’s not part of the job you like, but inevitably you’ve got to cut almost half the team. So that’s not an easy thing.”
Players who are released will have the opportunity to catch on with another team.
“For a lot of (players), this is also for scouts, all other 31 teams to look at our film,” Chiefs veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said. “So they’re getting evaluated.”
Who are some of the players, perhaps on the roster bubble, who will be looking to make a good final impression Friday evening?
The Chiefs’ wide receiver group is deep. The top five look solid with Rashee Rice, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Xavier Worthy, Smith-Schuster and rookie Jalen Royals. If the Chiefs keep six or seven, the next group includes Nikko Remigio, Tyquan Thornton and Jason Brownlee.
Another candidate, fourth-year pro Skyy Moore, was traded to the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday.
Complicating matters is Rice’s potential suspension for a high-speed car crash last year in Dallas. He is scheduled to have his case heard by the NFL on Sept. 30, but it’s possible for a suspension settlement to be reached before the season begins.
Also, will the Chiefs keep nine offensive linemen, or perhaps 10? They’ve opened seasons with both scenarios. The starters seemed locked in: tackles Josh Simmons and Jawaan Taylor, guards Trey Smith and Kingsley Suamataia and center Creed Humphries.
Jaylon Moore and Wanya Morris (tackles) and Mike Caliendo and Hunter Nourzad (interior) have been getting the most backup reps in training camp. C.J. Hanson also factors in on the interior, along with tackles Esa Pole and Ethan Driskell.
Unable to make a last impression and out for the game because of injury are tight end Jake Briningstool, safety Mike Edwards, cornerback Nazeeh Johnson, defensive tackle Omar Norman-Lott, Driskell and Royals.
Earlier this week, defensive tackle Felix Anudike-Uzomah was ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury.
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 3:09 PM.