As they put together to host the Baltimore Ravens on September 5 to kick off the NFL season, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have introduced 16 gamers signed to their preliminary follow squad.
Follow squads have been elevated to 16 gamers in the course of the pandemic, and that seems to be a everlasting change. Groups can even signal six gamers with a limiteless variety of accrued skilled seasons.
Like final season, groups will likely be allowed to raise as much as two gamers to their gameday rosters (as much as thrice for a person participant within the common season) with out the chance of a waiver declare. Golf equipment retain the flexibility to guard as much as 4 gamers from being signed to different 53-man rosters. The Chiefs have used this capability sparingly — usually, when there have been a number of accidents able group.
Learn on to seek out out extra about these gamers — and why the Chiefs can even have a seventeenth participant on this 12 months’s follow squad.
Emani Bailey • RB • 5-7• 202 kilos
Bailey joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent this spring after spending his faculty days at Louisiana and TCU. In his remaining season with the Horned Frogs, the Denton, Texas native totaled 1393 scrimmage yards and 9 touchdowns. Bailey gained 29 yards on eight speeding makes an attempt in the course of the Chiefs’ preseason.
Swayzee Bozeman • LB • 6-1 • 224 kilos
An undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, Bozeman performed in all three preseason video games and was in on 14 tackles. The 25-year-old spent 5 seasons with the Golden Eagles, ending with 189 tackles and 7 sacks.
Deon Bush • DB • 6-0 • 200 kilos
Bush has been part of the 2 latest Tremendous Bowl run after six seasons with the Chicago Bears. Whereas he spent most of final season on the follow squad, his presence was felt after he was promoted late within the season. In the course of the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Recreation, Bush delivered a key interception off of quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Cole Christiansen • LB • 6-1 • 230 kilos
Christiansen has been on and off the Chiefs’ energetic roster and follow squad over the previous two seasons. Accidents noticed him activated for 3 of Kansas Metropolis’s playoff video games final season. Christiansen was in on 70% of the Chiefs’ particular groups snaps in each the AFC Championship Recreation and the Tremendous Bowl.
Baylor Cupp • TE • 6-6 • 243 kilos
An alumnus of Texas Tech, Cupp caught 11 passes for 114 yards with a pair of touchdowns for the Pink Raiders final season earlier than signing with Kansas Metropolis after the draft. Cupp recorded a ten-yard landing reception within the Chiefs’ remaining preseason sport in opposition to the Bears.
Matt Dickerson • DT • 6-5 • 298 kilos
Dickerson has attended coaching camp with the Chiefs for the previous three seasons. After being waived on 2022’s cutdown day, he was claimed by the Atlanta Falcons. Dickerson rejoined the Chiefs the next Could and was listed on and off final season’s roster. He appeared in 12 video games for the 2023 Chiefs, totaling 12 tackles.
Neil Farrell • DT • 6-4 • 325 kilos
Farrell performed in 9 video games as a rookie with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. The Raiders then traded their former fourth-round choice to the Chiefs ultimately season’s roster cutdown. Farrell solely performed in three regular-season video games with the Chiefs in 2023, however he was energetic for the ultimate two playoff rounds, recording a sort out on 16 defensive snaps within the Tremendous Bowl.
Chuckwuebuka Godrick • T • 6-5 • 293 kilos
Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, Godrick has been with the Chiefs since 2022 because the staff’s worldwide pathway participant. The Chiefs will once more obtain a follow squad exemption for Godrick — permitting them to signal a seventeenth participant to the unit. Throughout his second preseason with the staff, Godrick performed 117 offensive snaps.
Keaontay Ingram • RB • 6-0 • 220 kilos
The Arizona Cardinals chosen Ingram from USC within the sixth spherical in 2022. In sparing NFL motion, he has rushed for 134 yards and a landing whereas including eight receptions for 47 yards. Ingram joined the Chiefs’ follow squad late final season. Within the preseason finale, he rushed 4 instances for 26 yards.
Truman Jones • DE • 6-3 • 250 kilos
In his second camp and preseason with Kansas Metropolis, Jones gave the impression to be making a case for the roster. The previous Harvard move rusher had a very spectacular exhibiting in opposition to the Lions within the second preseason sport, the place he delivered a sack. Nevertheless, with the Chiefs lately reinforcing the place, Jones will spend one other season on the follow squad.
Fabian Lovett • DT • 6-3 • 316 kilos
Lovett cut up his faculty profession between Mississippi State and Florida State. He was credited with 4 tackles-for-loss in his remaining season with the Seminoles. He noticed 56 defensive snaps with the Chiefs this preseason.
Lucas Niang • OT • 6-6 • 315 kilos
The Chiefs drafted Niang out of TCU within the third spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft. Sadly, he has struggled with availability. After opting out of his rookie season by way of the league’s COVID protocols, he began 9 video games in 2021. Sadly, he suffered a serious knee harm late within the season that might in the end price him a lot of 2022. Niang appeared in 14 video games, although with no begins, for the Chiefs final season.
Nikko Remigio • WR • 5-9 • 187 kilos
Remigio has created buzz within the final two coaching camps after signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in 2023. Remigio performed in all three exhibitions this month after seeing his first preseason in Kansas Metropolis truncated by harm. He confirmed specific prowess within the return sport, taking 4 kickoffs for a mixed 133 yards whereas including a 42-yard punt return.
Justyn Ross • WR • 6-4 • 210 kilos
Ross appeared like a future star within the 2018 Faculty Soccer Playoff whereas with Clemson, combining for 301 receiving yards and three touchdowns over two video games. Sadly, again and foot accidents plagued the rest of his faculty profession. Ross went undrafted on account of medical considerations and signed with the Chiefs in 2022. His time in Kansas Metropolis, nevertheless, has been tormented by extra accidents and an off-the-field incident. For the Chiefs, Ross has six profession receptions for 53 yards.
Keith Taylor • CB • 6-3 • 195 kilos
Taylor appeared in 34 video games with the Carolina Panthers from 2021-22. After the Panthers parted with their former fifth-round choice final season, he joined the Chiefs’ follow squad. Taylor performed 133 defensive snaps this preseason. He recorded an interception in opposition to Detroit.
Montrell Washington • WR • 5-10 • 170 kilos
A former fifth-round decide of the Denver Broncos, Washington joined the Chiefs’ follow squad final season. He was elevated to the energetic roster for a time. In six video games, he returned eight punts for a complete of 61 yards whereas including a 20-yard kickoff return. Washington recorded a 49-yard reception within the Chiefs’ exhibition finale in opposition to Chicago.
As a result of Godrick will play with an exemption, the Chiefs truly presently have an open spot on their follow squad. That opening will reportedly go to former New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe, who has not formally joined the staff as of Wednesday.
Whereas a bigger follow squad and elevation guidelines have allowed for veteran depth and participant improvement that was beforehand not doable, the unit’s main objective stays assembling scout groups that resemble upcoming opponents.
Gamers are added and dropped from the follow squad regularly as follow wants change. Whereas no members of the 2023 preliminary follow squad made this season’s opening roster, seven of the names stay the identical, providing hope that we might hear extra from a few of these gamers sooner or later.
