There's a short window every NFL preseason in which the hearts of a few players are taken for a roller coaster ride. It begins with the news that a player on the roster bubble is told he's made the initial 53-man roster, only to find out less than 24 hours later that he's been cut after all.
On Monday, two Kansas City Chiefs defenders experienced this firsthand. Defensive tackle Marcus Harris and cornerback Kevin Knowles were both part of the team's active roster as of Sunday night after the first wave of cuts was due. But after the Chiefs submitted two successful waiver claims—for defensive linemen Bryson Eason and Jack Pyburn—both Harris and Knowles learned their ultimate fate of being waived themselves.
It's entirely possible that Harris and Knowles both factor into the Chiefs' plans after all, but for now, both players will have to wait to find out what happens next. As players with little accrued service time in the NFL, Harris and Knowles are both subject to waivers themselves, and it's possible that another team might claim one or both.
If claimed on waivers, Harris and Knowles would be given a spot on an active roster with another team, which would be a victory for the players despite being cut by the Chiefs. If the players go unclaimed, then the Chiefs are likely hoping to place both of them on the taxi squad to keep them around.
Both Marcus Harris and Kevin Knowles are headed for waivers themselves, less than 24 hours after making the first iteration of the Chiefs' active roster.
Knowles was a surprise addition to the initial roster, given that the team went with 11 defensive backs in that first iteration. He's a favorite of special teams coordinator Dave Toub, and that alone will earn Knowles multiple promotions during the season, and he remains an important security blanket in case of injuries in the slot. The Chiefs kept him for a reason, which is why he's an easy target for the PS if unclaimed.
Harris was a heartening story as a journeyman defensive tackle who'd tried and failed to find a long-term home with the Texans, Patriots, and Bills since 2024, when he was Houston's seventh-round choice. The Chiefs offered him a futures contract last January and he became a dominant force in preseason play. After the finale last Friday against the visiting Seahawks, Harris felt like a roster lock, with Omarr Norman-Lott obviously sidelined to start the season.
Both players feel like contributors who will eventually find their way back to the Chiefs' active roster. They're young players at positions where depth is key, and they already came so close to making the team in Week 1. Expect them to slide onto the practice squad unless another team comes in with a waiver claim. Either way, they'll get their playing time, even if they have to experience the heartbreak of the present moment.
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