KC Chiefs cut offensive lineman, host wide receiver tryouts

The Kansas City Chiefs made a couple of roster moves and held further tryouts at wide receiver in the last 24 hours.

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach continues to tinker with the team’s offseason roster as the spring comes to an end, and in the last 24 hours, it’s clear that Veach is eyeing some potential changes on offense. On Monday, he created a roster spot for his latest signing in the backfield and even watched a couple of wide receivers show what they can do on a tryout basis.

The biggest order of business for the Chiefs in the last few days has been re-signing running back Jerick McKinnon for another year after watching the veteran account for 315 yards from scrimmage in three postseason appearances last winter. McKinnon was perhaps a surprise as a still-available RB on the open market, and the Chiefs reached an agreement to add him to the competitive mix for ’22.

In order to clear a roster spot for McKinnon, the Chiefs waived goodbye, likely temporarily, to Darryl Williams, a familiar face who has stuck around at the fringes of the roster since 2020. As an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State, Williams earned a decent bonus to sign with the team but he’s yet to break through in the way that other low-level picks or rookie free agents have done (a la Nick Allegretti or Yasir Durant). Given his familiarity with the team, however, he could be an easy call-up, so to speak, when the chips are down.

As for the tryout players, the Chiefs hosted both wide receiver Damon Hazelton, a prospect out of Missouri, and Aaron Parker, a wideout from Rhode Island. Given the turnover at the position, it’s not surprising to see Veach continue to turn over stones in order to find the best overall competition that he can—including future prospects to keep an eye on when other contracts expire after the 2022 season.