Nate Orchard, Terrence Fede work out for Kansas City Chiefs

Given the injuries recently suffered along the defensive front, it’s not surprising to see the Kansas City Chiefs check out Nate Orchard and Terrence Fede.

The Kansas City Chiefs might be headed toward a bye week, but the front office isn’t taking any time off just yet. Brett Veach, the team’s general manager, and his staff have been busy checking out new options to sign to bolster the defensive line, and NFL reporter Aaron Wilson has word that both Terrence Fede and Nate Orchard were in town to work out for the Chiefs.F

The Chiefs have been thin at defensive end in particular given a recent number of injuries to hit the roster. Alex Okafor has missed a few games this year with various injuries and the team’s most recent win over the Chargers was his latest absence. Okafor is expected to be back at some point in the near future, but the team also recently placed sack leader Emmanuel Ogbah on injured reserve after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle during the Week 10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Ogbah was a rotational body for the Chiefs who proved valuable as a pass rusher, while Okafor was a starting end opposite Frank Clark on the outside. The loss of both meant that the Chiefs were forced to rely heavily on Tanoh Kpassagnon while shifting bodies like Chris Jones to end instead of relying on him in the middle. That’s fine in the short term, but the fatigue set in while playing in Mexico City’s high elevation. Overall, it simply makes sense to bolster the position.

The Chiefs have a stout defensive front most weeks, but injuries have been taking their toll all season long. Breeland Speaks never got to play a single snap this year, and Xavier Williams joined him on injured reserve within a month of the season starting.

Let’s take a closer look at each player:

Terrence Fede

Fede is a 28-year-old veteran who initially entered the league as a seventh round pick of the Miami Dolphins back in the 2014 NFL Draft. A small school prospect out of Marist, Fede is remarkably still hanging around NFL circles enough to at least get a look from pro teams who need help. He hasn’t played a single down during the regular season since ’17 season, but he did appear in 51 total games for Miami in his four year career there.

Ever since, Fede has spent time on the rosters of both the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants. Most recently, he was a preseason roster cut by New York back in late August.

Nate Orchard

Orchard will be familiar to Chiefs fans as a short-term signing back in the middle of last season. He played in a single game for the Chiefs but he was on the roster for a few weeks from October to November.

Overall, Orchard is mostly known for being a former high pick (second round) of the Cleveland Browns that never worked out (often quoted on a long list of such picks) made before John Dorsey arrived in town. Despite being in his fifth NFL season, Orchard is still only 26 and comes with 13 starts in 38 total games, primarily with the Browns and Bills.

Most recently the Dolphins had Orchard on their preseason roster despite his pass rushing prowess displayed during the preseason. Orchard had four preseason sacks to tie for first overall but Miami decided to cut him anyway as the team prepared for the regular season. Orchard has remained on the outside looking in ever since.