The Kansas City Chiefs have brought back offensive lineman Darryl Williams for another stint on the practice squad. The stint replaces another young offensive line prospect in Prince Tega Wanogho, who ended up being released from the team’s practice squad and re-signed to a reserve/futures deal instead earlier this week.
For those who’ve followed the Chiefs practice squad this season, Williams should be a very familiar name to you since he lasted almost the entire season on it. The former Mississippi State lineman went unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft, but the Chiefs gave him a sizable bonus to join them last spring. From there, he was able to turn heads enough to warrant a longer look through the preseason and then onto the practice squad, despite the fact he didn’t make the active roster like other candidates (e.g. Yasir Durant).
Williams was released earlier in January, however, due to other roster moves, which made him a free agent for a short spell. However, with an extra spot cleared with the release of Wanogho, Williams is now back in the fold for the duration of the present season left.
For the Chiefs, all eyes are on the chance to repeat as Super Bowl champions, which means Williams gets to be a part of something special if he remains on the roster.
As for his utility on the practice squad, Williams’ presence on the roster now keeps other teams from potentially signing him to a futures deal. It might already be worked out that he will get such a deal as well, but having a lineman who knows the playbook and the roster already could be useful going forward for a team with so many injury concerns along the offensive front.
Darryl Williams gives the Chiefs extra insurance along the offensive interior.
Injuries to Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher have already taken out the team’s top two tackles, but others are also dealing with injuries or limitations of some kind in practice, including Mike Remmers, who is slated to take over at left tackle most likely, and Andrew Wylie, who has been a fixture at right guard for most of the season but might now slide outside at right tackle. The presence of Williams on the roster is further insurance for the offensive interior against more injuries in practice. A team can never be too careful and the Chiefs still have another week to prepare for the big game.