Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/8

Andy Reid Explains Eric Fisher's Move Back to Right Tackle, Among Other OL Moves from The Mothership

"[Fisher] gives me a whole lot of flexibility," Reid said. "I think he can play really any position on the offensive line and play at a Pro Bowl-caliber level."

Fisher has missed some time with a high ankle sprain suffered back at training camp on August 17, and Stephenson played well at left tackle in his absence.

"What I did was I just left things as they remained on the left side," Reid said. "Donald [Stephenson] has taken a bunch of reps there and so, I left him there. I put Fish back on the right side and he's played it and didn't have any problems.

"I think we have the five best guys."

Chiefs GM John Dorsey: "This is a Better Football Team" from The Mothership

"I think we got to the point where we actually had to release guys that were capable of playing the National Football League. I think that's what you kind of strive for."

Two of the players the Chiefs released were quickly scooped up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in linebacker James-Michael Johnson and offensive lineman Eric Kush.

"Those decisions were very hard," Dorsey said.

Besides improving the team for immediate results, Dorsey and his staff strengthened the future of the roster in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks for veteran safety and special teams ace Kelcie McCray, who netted the Chiefs an extra fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

"If you can improve your roster to the point of people calling you up and wanting to orchestrate a trade with you, that's the objective of every personnel guy," Dorsey explained. "You want to get great depth, that's kind of what you're looking for year in and year out."

Six Individual Evaluations Passed Along By GM John Dorsey at Monday's Press Conference from The Mothership

On tight end Brian Parker, who the Chiefs claimed from the San Diego Chargers: "We've all along liked him. Ever since the college draft came along, we've really liked him. We've monitored him all through the preseason and he's shown exactly what we've thought he would be. He's a really good run blocker, he's got speed to go down the field, he's got the hands to catch, but he can contribute on special teams. I see a good ceiling for him as well."

Defensive Tackle Dontari Poe Practiced Sunday, Could Play Against Houston Texans Week 1 from The Mothership

"He's on schedule to possibly have an opportunity to play against the Texans," Reid added. "We'll just see how he does here once he gets the pads on Wednesday. But he feels good. He felt good after yesterday's work. We'll see how things go and kind of take it day by day."

Jaye Howard had been receiving most of the first-team reps at defensive tackle in Poe's absence.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King Likes Kansas City's Chances This Season from The Mothership

King pens the Kansas City Chiefs as winning the AFC West division, but still believes the Denver Broncos, who in his eyes will earn a wild card bid, will reach the AFC championship game, while the Chiefs will not.

In the AFC championship game, King has the Baltimore Ravens over the Broncos, 27-20. From there, he believes the NFC's Green Bay Packers will defeat the Ravens in Super Bowl 50, 31-27.

Chiefs shake up offensive line, move Eric Fisher to right tackle from Chiefs Digest

Reid said Fisher, who has been dealing with a high-ankle sprain suffered in training camp, practiced Sunday and offers versatility.

"Fish gives me a whole lot of flexibility," Reid said. "I think he can play really any position on the offensive line and play it at a Pro Bowl-caliber level."

Reid adds Fisher took the move in stride.

"He's going to do what's best for the team and let's roll," Reid said. "That's his attitude. He's glad to be healthy again or at least on track to play again. He was fired up about that, getting back in and that's how he approached it."

Andy Reid's head in right place on bold decision with Eric Fisher from ESPN

Now that Fisher is back and ready to play on Sunday against the Texans in Houston, there was no reason to mess with a good thing.

"Donald has got a ton of reps over there,'' Reid said. "I just said, ‘Listen, let's just leave him there.' He looks like he's comfortable with that. I think he's actually more comfortable there than he was with the right tackle [spot].

"He's had some ups and downs at that right tackle spot. Left tackle, he seems to be more comfortable. Fish can play anything. If we taught him center, I think he'd go in and be a phenomenal center.''

Chiefs add offensive line depth by signing veteran Jah Reid from ESPN

Reid started seven games in his four seasons with the Ravens.

The Chiefs will probably be short at tackle, at least until Jeff Allen returns after spraining his knee early in the preseason. The Chiefs were pessimistic Allen would be available for Sunday's season opener at the Houston Texans.

Getting healthy: Chiefs could have Poe, Fisher back for season opener from FOX Sports Kansas City

John Dorsey has pieced together what he believes is his strongest roster since taking over as the Kansas City Chiefs' general manager nearly three years ago.

On Monday, he got some news that could help prove that assessment correct.

After missing all of training camp following back surgery, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dontari Poe has returned to practice this week. Poe did a little work on Sunday and, depending on how he fares when pads go on Wednesday, could play in Sunday's season opener in Houston.

Chiefs DT Dontari Poe practices, could play against Texans from Chiefs Digest

Reid said the team will monitor Poe during practice and the plan is to limit repetitions.

But so far, so good for Poe, who now has a legitimate shot at being in the lineup.

"We'll just have to see how he does here once we get the pads on Wednesday," Reid said. "He feels good. He felt good after yesterday's work and we'll see how things go, kind of take it day-by-day."

Dontari Poe returns to practice and could play vs. Houston on Sunday from ESPN

The Chiefs have filled in for Poe with different people. Jaye Howard has played on running downs and Mike Catapano in passing situations. The Chiefs released Catapano over the weekend and could use either Howard or Mike DeVito in that role in Houston.

Or Poe could play. General manager John Dorsey seemed to enjoy the intrigue surrounding that situation.

Notebook: Chiefs' Andy Reid addresses cutting ties with Mike Catapano from Chiefs Digest

"Mike's a good football player and he'll probably hook on with somebody else," coach Andy Reid said. "I think if you were running a 4-3 and you put Mike as a rush defensive end, hand in the dirt and get yourself up field and go, I think that's what he's going to hook on with, a team like that."

The 6-4 Catapano, whom the Chiefs listed at 270 pounds, has been on record stating he weighed 290, even going so far as to proclaim himself as the "leanest, meanest, 290 in the NFL right now" during training camp.

The added pounds, however, may have been a detriment as he learned to play inside.

Chiefs couldn't find a way to utilize Mike Catapano's skills from ESPN

The signs were ominous for Catapano when he was a rookie. The Chiefs initially tried him at outside linebacker but, signalling they were confused about what was best for him, later that season switched him to defensive end.

He missed all of last season with a viral condition but after his return this year failed to show he belonged.

"I think if you were running a 4-3 and you put Mike as a rush defensive end, hand in the dirt, get yourself up the field and go, that's what he's going to hook on with, a team like that,'' coach Andy Reid said. "He always fought to keep his weight up and all that so he could be inside there and he would get bounced around a little bit on the inside.

"If we were playing a 4-3 and he could just charge from there ...‘'

Chiefs establish 10-man practice squad from Chiefs Digest

ChiefsDigest.com previously reported through independent sources the signings of wide receivers Fred Williams and rookie Da'Ron Brown, defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo, rookie offensive lineman Daniel Munyer and rookie defensive lineman David Irving.

The Chiefs announced the remaining five signings as offensive lineman Jarrod Pughsley, fullback Spencer Ware, tackle Laurence Gibson, tight end Ross Travis and cornerback Jeremy Harris.

Chiefs show depth of secondary by keeping 10 defensive backs from ESPN

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

Jeremy Maclin: He played well in training camp and the preseason and showed a nice rapport with Alex Smith.

Albert Wilson: He finished last season with a flourish but was disappointing in training camp and the preseason.

Jason Avant: He will get some work as a slot receiver.

De'Anthony Thomas: A calf injury kept him from playing throughout most of the preseason.

Chris Conley: He's making a push for playing time after finishing the preseason well.

Frankie Hammond Jr.: Special-teams skills helped him make the final roster.

Tale of the tape for Chiefs' 2015 roster from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs started with 90 players at the end of July and they now have 53 in the locker room, in a roster that has changed three times in three days.

But as the smoke cleared Monday, it appeared that general manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid had their roster set, or at least in place for the first week of the season.

Here's a look behind the roster at the back stories for the 2015 Chiefs.

Former Kansas City Chiefs Safety Kelcie McCray Happy to be a Part of Seahawks Secondary from Seahawks.com

On Saturday, the day all 32 NFL teams were required to trim their 75-man rosters down to a maximum of 53 players, the fourth-year safety McCray was called into the office of Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey, a sign that doesn't often bode well for one's future at this particular time of year.

But Dorsey quickly reassured McCray that he wasn't being cut. Instead, the Chiefs GM relayed to McCray that he had been acquired by the Seahawks, who shipped a 2016 fifth-round draft pick to Kansas City for the safety's services.

"It is nice to be wanted," McCray said Monday from his new locker at Seahawks headquarters. "It could have ended up a lot worse. I know a lot of guys, a lot of my friends are without a job right now. So it could be a lot worse."

Wild-card predictions: No Super return for one-and-done Seahawks from FOX Sports

How long has it been since Cincinnati won a playoff game? You've got to go back to 1990 — and it came against a franchise which is no longer in that city (the Houston Oilers). Kansas City's streak of postseason futility extends to 1993 when Joe Montana and Marcus Allen were putting the wraps on their Hall of Fame careers. Thus, something must finally give when Cincinnati and the Chiefs meet at chilly Arrowhead Stadium. The Bengals will enter as the underdogs because of their recent playoff futility with opening-round losses each of the past four seasons under head coach Marvin Lewis and QB Andy Dalton combined with Kansas City capturing its first AFC West title under head coach Andy Reid (a sweep of the defending division champion Denver Broncos paved the way). Dalton doesn't shine against a nasty Chiefs pass defense, but he doesn't have to. Jeremy Hill outduels Kansas City's Jamaal Charles in a battle of elite AFC rushers to pace Cincinnati's win and help Lewis avoid becoming the first head coach in NFL history to post an 0-7 playoff record with the same team.

Final: Cincinnati 19, Kansas City 17

Jadeveon Clowney sharp in meetings, knows the Texans defense well from ESPN

"The guy knows the answers," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "Our defense, it's not always the easiest thing to pick that thing up, especially when you're not practicing. Clearly, he has good football intelligence. The game will be fast, we understand that. He hasn't played in a while. I think where he is Xs and Os-wise is in a good place."

Clowney will play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he won't be in the full game. O'Brien hasn't yet decided how many plays he'll play, but acknowledged a need to be smart with the player who spent the offseason recovering from December microfracture surgery.

Bold predictions for the 2015 season from NFL.com

Alex Smith will throw for 4,000 yards, set career high in TDs...

...As for those of you laughing, the Chiefs' offensive additions have helped open up the passing attack. Jeremy Maclin looks like a go-to receiver and tight end Travis Kelce will do his Gronk-in-2011 impersonation. The Chiefs' speed on the outside is vastly improved from last season's piddling unit. Yes, it's still Alex Smith, the quivering, never-take-chances quarterback. But he threw for 3,265 yards with a group of receivers that couldn't earn separation from a blowing leaf, much less a cornerback in 2014. -- Kevin Patra

Alex Smith will also set a career-high in passing touchdowns. A unit that failed to complete a single touchdown pass to a wide receiver a year ago will be completely forgotten and Smith will redefine himself as a passer at age 31. This will not be a Ben Roethlisberger-type explosion from a year ago, but Reid will work his magic and Smith, now with Maclin by his side, will find a new best friend rather quickly. -- Conor Orr

Bill O'Brien and Texans player quotes: September 7 from HoustonTexans.com

(on the Chiefs moving Eric Fisher to right tackle and other changes on the offensive line) "You're going to have to go back and try to watch some games, watch some times when they've done that. You know, it'll be hard to find because it hasn't happened a whole lot, but you're going to have to go back and try to find that. I will say this, this is a very potent offense that we're facing. You've got guys like Jamaal Charles, Jeremy Maclin, (Travis) Kelce, the tight end, (Jason) Avant, returners in the return game, Knile Davis and De'Anthony Thomas. These guys have speed, obviously. I'm not even mentioning Alex Smith. Alex Smith is a really good quarterback, a mobile quarterback, a guy that can run. We've got a big challenge ahead of us. They've got big, athletic offensive lineman. We've got to study where they're at and try to do the best we can to combat that on Sunday."

Duvernay-Tardif officially starting right guard of the Kansas City Chiefs from Le Journal de Montreal [translated from the original French]

It is done! Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has officially been appointed starting right guard for the first game of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. It is a great feat, nothing less.

Take a tiny minute to stop. The product of the McGill Redmen, who had any kind of football experience until spring 2014, is now among the top five Chiefs offensive linemen.

Then, take another minute to stop, it's worth it! Realize that the Chiefs like nicknamed Larry prepares to line up against the best defensive player of the galaxy and possibly also the formidable Texans defensive end JJ Watt!