The Kansas City Chiefs released running back George Atkinson who had been with the team on the practice squad for some time.
The Kansas City Chiefs have officially cut ties with a running back prospect who had spent some time on the team’s practice squad in George Atkinson on Wednesday. Atkinson had been with the team’s practice squad for most of the season before signing reserve/futures contract in January. Now, however, he is a free agent once again.
Atkinson entered the NFL with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in a move that turned to be a wonderful story of a son pursuing a football career with the same exact team as his father, also named George Atkinson, did with the Raiders. His father was a pro safety and kick returner for the Raiders from 1968 to 1977.
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The younger Atkinson didn’t last too long in Oakland and, in fact, had multiple stints with them before and after a short stop with the Cleveland Browns. The Chiefs were his fourth official NFL stop, so his chances might be coming to an end with the latest release.
Given the presence of four veteran running backs on the roster, the competition is already going to be red hot going into training camp, especially at the bottom of the depth chart below Kareem Hunt. Spencer Ware is returning from a season-ending injury and hopes to reclaim at least some of his lost starter’s reps. Charcandrick West is the incumbent third down back who is being challenged by the newest free agent signing, Damien Williams, who should vie for the same role after serving in that capacity with the Miami Dolphins.
Atkinson, still only 25-years-old, was a football and track star at the University of Notre Dame.