Chiefs news: Marcus Marshall, Anthony Lanier released by team

The Kansas City Chiefs recently cut two players to make room on the active roster in running back Marcus Marshall and defensive end Anthony Lanier.

The Kansas City Chiefs made a couple minor moves on Tuesday to create more roster space for incoming rookies with the release of running back Marcus Marshall and defensive end Anthony Lanier.

Marshall first came to the Chiefs as a rookie free agent who impressed enough over a tryout to earn a spot on the 90-man offseason roster. He then stuck around even after final rosters were due by landing on the team’s practice squad. Unfortunately, that stay was short-lived as the team released him in October for the sake of adding offensive lineman Ryan Hunter to the mix.

Marshall then returned to the team on a reserve/futures deal back in January. Depending on how the depth at running back shakes out, it’s very possible that Marshall remains in orbit around the Chiefs if the team decides to move a veteran back with the acquisition of Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Marshall averaged 7 yards/carry with Georgia Tech before transferring to star at a smaller school at James Madison. Marshall’s release places him on waivers, so every NFL team will have a chance to claim him by Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

As for Lanier. he’s a veteran with enough service time in the league to make him an immediate free agent, giving him complete control over his professional future.

Lanier never had a chance to really show Chiefs coaches what he can do up close with a full offseason. The former Alabama A&M player just signed with the team this winter on a reserve/futures deal but given the quarantine and subsequent cessation of all NFL activities, Lanier was shut out of any OTAs or even working out at the building.

Lanier first entered the NFL as a priority free agent back in 2016 with the Washington Redskins and stayed there through 2018. He spent all of last year with the L.A. Chargers.