KC Chiefs make roster moves for Kyle Long, Nick Keizer injuries

As training camp gets underway for the K.C. Chiefs, the team’s front office is placing players in the appropriate roster slots with the right designation that matches their injury status. On Tuesday night, the Chiefs finally got around to injuries for both offensive lineman Kyle Long and tight end Nick Keizer.

Per the NFL’s official transaction report, the Chiefs placed Long on the team’s PUP (Physically unable to perform) list, which really doesn’t mean much at all in the preseason. If Long remains there beyond when active roster cuts are due, then Long will be forced to miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season. At this point, however, Long being on the PUP list still takes up a roster spot and he’s eligible to come off of it at any point.

Long suffered a serious leg injury during OTAs, a frustrating sign that gives further credence to the fact that the Chiefs cannot depend on having Long in the starting lineup this season. The team signed him after Long stated a desire to come out of retirement after a year away from the game. He’s certainly a talented player, but availability has become a significant achievement for Long at this point and now it’s uncertain if he’ll be healthy for the start of the season or not.

The Chiefs have placed injury designations on Kyle Long and Nick Keizer.

As for Keizer, the status of his injury is unknown but he apparently suffered something wrong during the offseason. He was placed on the non-football injury list (NFI) which means the same thing as PUP except it’s an injury designation that means Keizer suffered the injury away from the team.

In terms of timing, it’s not good for Keizer who looked like he might be ascending the depth chart last season given the increase in opportunity in ’20 over the previous year. However, the Chiefs drafted Noah Gray in the most recent draft out of Duke and seem high on Blake Bell returning as a blocker. It could make it tough to keep four tight ends on the roster, and Keizer being out doesn’t help him at this stage.