Soon, there will be 53.
Over the last several months, Kansas City Chiefs fans have gotten to know a number of players who will never play a single snap for the team—or possibly any franchise in the NFL. The 90-man roster has presented intriguing newcomers, promising rookies, veteran flyers, and injured goods all hoping to earn the trust of Andy Reid and company. The reward: a prized spot on the Chiefs 53-man roster.
A process that used to feature several deadlines that titrated player releases over a week has been condensed into a single day, which means 37 players (or more) will receive a pink slip. That's a frenzy of activity, but we have you covered with our Chiefs roster cuts tracker, keeping tabs on those who are leaving and staying with an eye on potential additions on the other side of it all.
Chiefs 53-man roster cut tracker
- Latest Chiefs roster cuts
- Updated Chiefs roster cuts
- Notable cuts
- Potential waiver wire targets for the Chiefs
Last updated: Tuesday, August 30 at 8:43 p.m. ET
Latest Chiefs roster cuts
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Cole Christensen | LB |
Kader Kohou | CB |
Ethan Driskell | OT |
Chu Godrick | OT |
Tanner McCallister | S |
Jacob De Jesus | WR |
Xavier Loyd | WR |
Omari Evans | WR |
Cam Jones | LB |
Jason Brownlee | WR |
Cole Brevard | DL |
Jeff Weimer | WR |
DeShon Singleton | DB |
Tyreke Smith | DL |
Amari McNeill | DL |
Melvin Smith | CB |
Pete Nygra | OL |
Andrew Armstrong | WR |
Vincent Anthony | DL |
Josh Thompson | OL |
Niles King | DL |
Ethan Hurkett | DL |
CJ Hanson | OL |
Chris Oladokun | QB |
EJ Smith | RB |
Jaydn Ott | RB |
Emari Demercado | RB |
Damon Payne | DT |
Mason Pline | TE |
Kam Arnold | LB |
Esa Pole | OT |
Emmanuel Ogbah | DL |
Pete Nygra | IOL |
Tre Watson | TE |
Kaiir Elam | CB |
Zelmar Vedder | DB |
Wesley Bissainthe | LB |
Kellen Diesch | OT |
Anthony Dunn | DE |
Bryce Phillips | CB |
Updated Chiefs roster cuts
Quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes, Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier
Running Backs: Kenneth Walker III, Emmett Johnson, Brashard Smith
Wide Receivers: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Cyrus Allen, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals, Nikko Remigio (Jimmy Holiday to IR)
Tight Ends: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Jake Briningstool
Offensive Linemen: Josh Simmons, Creed Humphrey, Kingsley Suamataia, Trey Smith, Jaylon Moore, Kahlil Benson, Mike Caliendo, Joshua Ezeudu, Hunter Nourzad, Diego Pounds
Defensive Linemen: Chris Jones, Peter Woods, George Karlaftis, Ashton Gillotte, R Mason Thomas, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Khyriris Tonga, Marcus Harris (Omarr Norman-Lott to PUP)
Linebackers: Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton, Jeffrey Bassa, Jack Cochrane, Cooper McDonald
Cornerbacks: Mansoor Delane, L'Jarius Sneed, Nohl Williams, Chris Roland-Wallace, Jadon Canady,, Kevin Knowles, Kristian Fulton
Safeties: Alohi Gilman, Jaden Hicks, Chamarri Conner, Xavier Nwankpa
Specialists: Harrison Butker, Matt Araiza, James Winchester
IR/PUP: Ethan Downs (DE), Omarr Norman-Lott (DT), John Michael Gyllenborg (TE), Jeff Caldwell (WR), Matt Waletzko (OT)
Notable cuts
Kader Kohou, DB
The Chiefs signed Kohou to serve as a veteran competitor at slot corner after missing all of last season with injury. The former Dolphins corner was versatile enough to play outside as well, despite his smaller stature, but the Chiefs went with Chris Roland-Wallace and rookie Jadon Canady instead. Kohou is a good bet for the practice squad.
Andrew Armstrong, WR
The training camp darling failed to make the active roster despite a sensational preseason effort that featured gutsy catches and head-turning blocks. Fans are hoping he'll slip through waivers and make his way back to the practice squad. But Nikko Remigio won the WR6 spot due to his favored position as returner for Dave Toub.
Emari Demercado, RB
Most projections had the Chiefs at four running backs, but the Chiefs' needs at other positions squeezed any luxury room here. Demercado was the man left standing when the music stopped here, but it shouldn't surprise anyone if he comes back on the practice squad or if the Chiefs reconfigure things to add another name.
Esa Pole, OT
It's hard to believe that Esa Pole's stock dropped so precipitously this offseason, but after the recent moves at tackle, something had to give.
Emmanuel Ogbah, DL
Ogbah was signed to raise the floor of a younger DE room filled with questions. But given how good both R Mason Thomas and Felix Anudike-Uzomah looked, as well as how slow Ogbah looked at times in limited snaps, made it clear that the kids will be okay.
Kaiir Elam, CB
No surprise here, but it's notable that Elam was cut all the same. The reason being that it's likely the last stop for Elam after previous failed stints to make it work in Buffalo, Dallas, and Tennessee. The Chiefs offered him a chance to work with Dave Merritt in a completely wide-open cornerbacks room and he didn't even provide a real challenge for a roster spot.
Potential waiver wire targets for the Chiefs
Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, New England Patriots
The Chiefs might not have the room to pull off this move. The Patriots cut their fifth-round pick from a year ago in the hopes they could sneak him onto the practice squad, but it's unlikely that Bradyn Swinson makes it all the way through waivers. The former LSU product had draft analysts convinced of his potential and the Chiefs could use their earlier-than-usual waiver position to take advantage.
Eric Gregory, DT, New England Patriots
If we're looking at potential players from the defending AFC champs, we have to mention another roster cut in Eric Gregory. The tackle is a solid run stuffer who played in seven games a year ago before ending his season on IR. He's a bit of a surprise cut for the Patriots, and it's possible Gregory would be an upgrade over someone like Marcus Harris inside.
Jared Ivey, DE, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks signed Jared Ivey as a rookie free agent in 2025 and he came on strong enough in the preseason to stick around on the practice squad with two promotions to the active roster. This summer, he's come on strong again, and the Chiefs just watched him wreck their plans up front in the final preseason game for both teams. That fresh vision for what he could do might be enticing enough to claim a guy who is crowded out of a talented roster coming off a Super Bowl win last February.
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