The Kansas City Chiefs are going shopping at linebacker in the wake of Cooper McDonald's injury. On Thursday, the team worked out four potential additions in the hopes of finding a bit more depth and security.
McDonald was recently placed on injured reserve after leaving Week 1 against the Denver Broncos with a knee injury early in the first half. McDonald will now be forced to miss the next four weeks, which means the earliest that the second-year linebacker could return is Week 6 for a home game against the L.A. Chargers.
The Chiefs were leaning on two younger linebackers in McDonald and Jeffrey Bassa to help replace the snaps and production lost when Leo Chenal departed for the Washington Commanders in free agency. McDonald was an undrafted free agent a year ago who impressed the Chiefs so much that he not only made the active roster but stayed there all season as a special teamer projected for greater playing time in '26.
Without McDonald, the Chiefs aren't going to elevate any new signing into his role. Those reps will go to a familiar face in Jack Cochrane, another core special teamer with the versatility to fill-in at any linebacker slot. Cochrane has earned the trust of coaches for several seasons now—since arriving in 2022—although he's been called for way too many flags on special teams.
Here's a look at the four linebackers who worked out for the Chiefs:
Dominic DeLuca
DeLuca is used to working hard to get noticed. Went from walk-on status to scholarship at Penn State in his five-year career, during which time he was a three-year captain. Played in 57 games with the Nittany Lions before catching on with the Balitmore Ravens after the draft. While he didn't make the active roster, he was placed on the practice squad for a spell before recently getting cut again.
Marte Mapu
If anyone on this list is familiar to Chiefs Kingdom, it's likely Mapu. The New England Patriots selected Mapu in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Sacramento State as a hybrid defender with experience in the secondary and at linebacker. His first career NFL interception came against K.C. that same year. He played in 44 games in the last three years for the Pats before being released in April. He signed with the Houston Texans for the summer before being released again.
Langston Patterson
After four seasons at Vanderbilt in which he had 14.5 tackles for loss, Langston Patterson earned a long look over the spring and summer with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. He was released before active rosters were due, however, and has been a free agent ever since.
T.J. Quinn
Quinn recently wrapped up his five-year career at Louisville that included a positional change from safety to linebacker. He led the Cardinals in total tackles in each of the last three seasons. He earned third-team All-ACC honors a year ago for a strong season that featured 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 8 tackles for loss. Originally signed with the Green Bay Packers as a rookie free agent.
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