Kansas City Chiefs add new tight end Deon Yelder to practice squad

The Kansas City Chiefs continue their search for a new tight end with the addition of rookie free agent Deon Yelder to the team’s practice squad.

The Kansas City Chiefs have added a new tight end prospect to the team’s practice squad with the announced signing of Deon Yelder, a rookie free agent out of Western Kentucky University.

The Chiefs made room for Yelder by releasing safety Leon McQuay from the practice squad. It’s been a very disappointing year for McQuay who was the team’s sixth round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft under John Dorsey. McQuay was an intelligent and versatile defensive back utilized all over the secondary at the Southern California and the Chiefs had hopes for the same at the pro level.

Unfortunately for McQuay, he could not get ahead of other roster hopefuls even in a pass defense that needed anyone to step up. McQuay didn’t make the active roster and now apparently doesn’t inspire Brett Veach to even keep him on the practice squad.

As for Yelder, he steps into the practice squad after the Chiefs just placed tight end Alex Ellis on injured reserve. Ellis made the team over veterans in the preseason like Jace Amaro and Tim Wright, but it was a short lived stop due to an injury. The Chiefs had waived Ellis but he went unclaimed.

Yelder showed up strong after leaving Western Kentucky with a solid showing in the Senior Bowl. He signed originally with the New Orleans Saints after the draft as a rookie free agent and he looked solid for them as a UDFA. The Saints released him however and now the Chiefs get a chance to look at the prospect up close.

Yelder had 52 catches for 688 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns last year for the Hilltoppers.