Several former members of the K.C. Chiefs organization were involved in NFL moves over the weekend, per the league’s transaction wire. Some of the faces involved will challenge even hardcore fans of the team to remember some names.
The New York Jets set former Chiefs kicker Sam Ficken free after releasing him on Saturday after deciding to go with the unproven Matt Ammendola. Ammendola is a rookie kicker out of Oklahoma State who was already a rookie free agent with the Carolina Panthers this offseason. (Note that the Panthers would likely still love to have Harrison Butker.)
Ficken has been the Jets kicker for each of the last two seasons and converted 13 of 15 field goal attempts last season in 9 games for New York—with both misses coming from 50-plus yards. It’s been a few years since Ficken was with the Chiefs for a single month back in the 2017 preseason when Cairo Santos was injured. He was waived when the regular season began and roster cuts were due.
Here’s the latest on several former Chiefs players.
Former Chiefs defensive tackle Joey Ivie found a new home with the Indianapolis Colts over the weekend while also signing quarterback Brett Hundley in the wake of Carson Wentz’s injury. Ivie has never lacked for interest around the league with his size and strength. He’s earned short stints with the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns since 2017 (as well as the Chiefs) with only 8 games played to show for it (five of those with K.C. in 2019).
Former Chiefs offensive lineman Danny Isidora worked out for the Houston Texans earlier this weekend as well. The Chiefs brought in Isidora as a versatile backup from the Miami Dolphins last season in the wake of so many injuries. Even then he was rarely used (1 game) though he spent time on the roster for the majority of the season.