Chiefs wide receiver Aleva Hifo among first on NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list

Kansas City Chiefs wideout Aleva Hifo is one of the first to hit the NFL’s COVID-19 list.

The Kansas City Chiefs were one of the first teams to utilize the NFL’s newest reserve list designation for COVID-19. Rookie wide receiver Aleva Hifo has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list among with five others on Sunday, per the NFL’s transaction report. However, a source told the Kansas City Star that he’s asymptomatic as of press time.

Hifo is a 22-year-old wide receiver out of BYU who signed with the Chiefs this spring after he wasn’t selected through the first-year player draft. He entered college as a cornerback recruit who transitioned to slot wideout for his college career and posted stronger numbers as he gained experience. Hifo had 42 catches for 483 yards and 3 touchdowns during his final season.

Hifo also profiles as a returner and ran an unofficial time of 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his makeshift pro day (remember, most college players had their pro days disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

The Chiefs likely wanted to get a closer look at that speed and his special teams prowess when they signed him after the draft.

The Chiefs also placed two other rookie free agents on waivers on Sunday: former Michigan State receiver Cody White and former Auburn cornerback Javaris Davis. The Chiefs gave White a $35K bonus to sign and another $20K to Davis, but clearly the team has already made some roster decisions early into the preseason.

Others to hit the reserve/COVID list along with Hifo include: defensive back Nigel Warrior (Baltimore), defensive end Kendall Futrell (Cincinnati), running back Dontrell Hilliard (Cleveland), defensive back Jovante Moffatt (Cleveland), and wide receiver Jon’Vea Johnson (Dallas).