KC Chiefs release four players including Lonnie Johnson

The Kansas City Chiefs have made a few roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s roster cuts deadline with the release of four players.

The Kansas City Chiefs have gotten ahead of the National Football League’s deadline to cut five players with the release of four guys hoping to make the final 53-man roster. Included in the lot was veteran cornerback Lonnie Johnson, who arrived from the Houston Texans via a trade following the completion of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Chiefs added defensive tackle Danny Shelton to the roster officially after reports of his signing came out late last week. Shelton comes on board at a time when Johnson is being released along with offensive tackle Even Ksiezarczyk and wide receivers Gary Jennings and Omar Bayless.

Johnson was brought on board as a veteran corner who could provide some experience and further depth for a very young secondary. Remember the Chiefs drafted five defensive backs in the draft alone and lost Charvarius Ward and Mike Hughes in free agency. Johnson also fit the mold of a reclamation project that general manager Brett Veach likes to try every offseason as a former second-round pick who never found his footing with his original team.

The release of Ksiezarczyk is not a surprise given that he was brought on board only due to the lack of offensive tackles early in camp. Orlando Brown Jr. was holding out at the same time Lucas Niang went down with injury.

As for Jennings and Bayless, the wide receiver position is simply too crowded for someone and after watching Daurice Fountain and Justin Watson stand out on Saturday, it was time for the Chiefs to pare down the level of competition at the position.