:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47099376/usa-today-8779670.0.jpg)
The Kansas City Chiefs 53-man roster will be here soon. By 3 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) today the Chiefs will be making 22 roster moves to go from the 75 players currently on the roster to the mandated 53-man roster. It was just a few days ago that the Chiefs went from 90 to 75 players so there are plenty of changes coming to this Chiefs team.
The Chiefs had a few position battles entering last Thursday's game, including several offensive line spots. OTs Eric Fisher and Jeff Allen are currently injured so we're doing some guessing on the offensive line to see how things will shake out. G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif looks like a shoe-in to make it and perhaps even start after Andy Reid called him one of the best five players "right now". With Allen seeming likely to miss Week 1 with his injury, the Chiefs may need to carry an extra tackle on the team.
The Chiefs are deep this year and will be cutting good players at both cornerback, safety and linebacker. Marcus Cooper is on the bubble but has a good shot to make it with Sean Smith's three-game suspension coming up. The Chiefs two backup safeties, Eric Berry and Tyvon Branch, are former Pro Bowlers. So someone like Kelcie McCray may not make it even though he could help. The Chiefs are really deep across the board at linebacker, to the point where they might be forced to cut a fifth round pick, DJ Alexander.
There's a lot going on today. I have provided a schedule below with the deadlines this week. The big one to remember is 3 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) this afternoon.
Chiefs 53-man roster prediction
Chiefs practice squad eligible players
Roster cut weekend nuts and bolts
September 5, 3 p.m. The Chiefs need to be down to 53 players. They're at 75 now. They have made most of their medical designations that I can think of (NFI for Tyler Bray) but it seems like there is always a surprise IR designation for a player who we didn't realize was hurt.
September 6, 11 a.m. Waiver wire claiming period for the previous day ends. This means that if another team cuts a player who goes to waivers, and the Chiefs claim him, they need to get that claim in by this time. The Chiefs had that amazing waiver wire weekend back in 2013 when they created their initial 53-man roster then claimed a whopping seven players off waivers, some of whom will be starting for the Chiefs this year. So, yeah, it's an important part of the roster game here. The waiver wire order is draft order right now so the Chiefs are No. 18.
September 6, 12 p.m. 10-man practice squads can start being created. The Chiefs first practice squad will probably be mostly made up of players who they cut the day before. Here are the Chiefs practice squad eligible players, and here are the practice squad rules.
September 6, 3 p.m. Teams are allowed to place a player on IR / designated to return. This means that the player can't practice for the first six weeks and can't play for the first eight weeks of the season. The upside is that they don't count against the 53-man roster during that time.