With another primetime game ahead of them at the end of Week 2, the Kansas City Chiefs have made their roster elevations with a couple of needy areas of the roster in mind.
Both linebacker Cole Christiansen and defensive tackle Marcus Harris were announced as the practice squad promotions for Week 2 ahead of the team's scheduled appearance on Sunday Night Football against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium.
Harris was the team's practice squad elevation in Week 1 as well, alongside fullback Ben VanSumeren, which means that the Chiefs have already used up two of their three allowable promotions for the defensive tackle. Harris is likely to be another roster call-up in Week 3 when the team visits the Miami Dolphins, given the current roster needs.
Why promote Marcus Harris again?
With defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott still on the mend and sitting on the physically unable to play list, the Chiefs are smart to bring Harris on board for some extra depth and insurance in case of injury. Harris enjoyed a strong summer with the Chiefs and had a real strong chance to make the active roster. While he was cut at the roster deadline for teams at the end of August, he was signed back to the taxi squad and promoted for the first game.
The case for Christiansen
Christiansen's promotion is no surprise given the issues at linebacker in the wake of Cooper McDonald's injury. The Chiefs lead with Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill at the position, but Jeffrey Bassa and McDonald are contending for key snaps alongside in the wake of Leo Chenal's departure to the Washington Commanders in free agency. McDonald, however, went down with a knee injury in Week 1 and will miss the next four weeks on injured reserve.
The Chiefs will turn to Jack Cochrane as a trusted veteran to step into McDonald's role, but Christiansen is another familiar face who knows the ropes as both a backup linebacker and special teams asset. Christiansen has played in 18 games over the last four seasons in stretches such as this, filling in when injuries open up oportunities.
As for VanSumeren, he's now on the active roster in McDonald's spot after earning a promotion last week. The team's renewed ground game emphasis, with Kenneth Walker and Emmett Johnson in the backfield, means fullback is back in play in Andy Reid's offense—for the first time since Michael Burton was on the roster back in 2022.
Add us as a preferred source on Google