When the dust had settled from the 2025 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs fans couldn't help but talk themselves into the hype that surrounded one of the undrafted free agents the team had signed. Clemson's Jake Briningstool immediately became the next big UDFA name for Chiefs fans and many thought there was a realistic chance for the rookie to make the roster and serve as depth at tight end.
Well, that plan might have already gone out the window before preseason even began because, unfortunately, Briningstool has suffered an injury that's kept him out of practice over the past week. Last week the Clemson product was seen sporting a sleeve on his left leg and has been held out of practice ever since.
This is an unfortunate blow for Briningstool because there was certainly a shot for him to make the roster, especially with Jared Wiley also missing practice due to injury. Now with the rookie on the shelf for who knows how long, that opportunity might slip away.
Jake Briningstool might have missed his chance to make Chiefs roster
Fortunately for the Chiefs, Briningstool wasn't going to be their starting option. That, of course, will be Travis Kelce, who very well could be entering his final year in the NFL. The Chiefs extended backup tight end Noah Gray this offseason and we always knew that those two would for sure be making the team.
Truthfully, Briningstool's best chance to make the team would have been if K.C. opted to keep four tight ends instead of three because, even though he's been out of practice lately, Wiley is likely getting the third spot. This injury to Briningstool might end up being severe enough that the Chiefs put him on IR, therefore not risking losing him to another team if they had to stash him on the practice squad.
Every fan base gets excited about a UDFA every year. For Chiefs fans, Briningstool has certainly been one of the more hyped ones since Justyn Ross (and we don't need to talk about how that ultimately panned out) and it's a bummer that we might not get to see him suit up for the team this year, or at all.
Maybe things will work out and this Clemson UDFA will light things up on offense the way Chiefs fans are hoping he will.