Deneric Prince released by KC Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have clarified the picture at running back after a competitive preseason in which there appeared to be multiple lead changes, so to speak, on the team's depth chart. In the end, the team decided to waive Deneric Prince rather than leave him on the active roster—at least by the league's deadline.

The National Football League gave every team a deadline of 4:00 p.m. E.T. to pare down the rosters from the 90-man offseason version to the 53-man active rosters that teams utilize in the regular season. At this point, it appears the Chiefs will go forward without Prince although they might hope to slip him back on the practice squad.

At this point, Prince will join more than 1,000 other players on the waiver wire, which means waiting to see which teams, if any, end up submitting claims on him. The Chicago Bears are first in the waiver order, which mirrors this year's original draft order, and finishes with the Kansas City Chiefs.

If Prince clears waivers, he's eligible to go to the Chiefs taxi squad, a 16-man group that comprises developmental talent and further depth in case of injury.

For Prince, it was quite a fall from the original heights to which he'd climbed in the preseason but that sort of mercurial showing is part of learning what it takes to compete as a rookie in the NFL. Prince, a promising running back prospect out of Tulsa, signed with the Chiefs shortly after going undrafted in the spring and turned heads immediately with his underrated pass catching ability and a tough running style that seemed destined to earn a surprise roster spot.