Chiefs sign former Falcons defensive lineman Austin Edwards to practice squad

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed defensive lineman Austin Edwards to the practice squad.

Earlier this week, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted a number of players for free agent visits, a group of seven players that included familiar faces like wide receiver Marcus Kemp and quarterback Jordan Ta’amu as well as some newer faces. One of those new players, defensive lineman Austin Edwards, has been signed to the team’s practice squad.

Edwards joins the Chiefs after finishing the regular season with the Atlanta Falcons on their practice squad. He signed with Atlanta shortly after the NFL Draft and was able to keep a spot on the roster or practice squad for the duration of the season, a good sign for such an NFL longshot.

Entering the NFL as a small-school prospect, Edwards faced long odds to ever make an NFL roster, but the 6’5, 280 lb. lineman turned heads at Ferris State on a regular basis and he has the requisite size and length to play at the pro level. He was named the Gene Upshaw Award winner as the top senior lineman (offensive or defensive) in Division II last season after putting up 17.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks for a D-II contender.

Edwards was actually promoted to the Falcons active roster and played in one game this year, earning limited reps on special teams and defense. That bodes well for his ability to develop with a team moving forward, especially as he adjusts to the speed of the game and has a complete offseason to work with a pro team’s training staff to further build strength. That said, the Chiefs have added him to the practice squad and not a futures deal, so it will be interesting to see if Edwards is flipped after the postseason is over into a deal for the 2021 offseason as well.