Chiefs roster cuts are in: CJ Spiller is out, Isaiah Battle traded to Seattle

By Joel Thorman@JoelThorman Updated Sep 2, 2017, 4:16pm CDT

The Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed their 2017 NFL roster cuts and moves to get down to 53 players. Among the surprises are the release of TE Gavin Escobar (minor surprise) and RB CJ Spiller (big surprise).

OT Isaiah Battle was traded to the Seahawks.

LB Tamba Hali and LB Dadi Nicolas are on the PUP list.

CB Ashton Lampkin and RB Spencer Ware were placed on IR.

List of Chiefs cuts

What to know about the Chiefs cuts

OL Joseph Cheek: He was playing at guard. Could be a practice squad guy.

WR Gehrig Dieter: He had a nice rapport with Patrick Mahomes so I bet he’s coming back to the practice squad.

K Sam Ficken: Cairo Santos must be healthy.

CB Jacoby Glenn: He had been hurt for a while during camp.

OT Donald Hawkins: The Chiefs backup tackles had some trouble.

WR Seantavius Jones: This one hurts. I liked him. He could be back, too.

G Damien Mama: Another practice squad candidate. He was one of the first undrafted guys this year that Andy Reid highlighted.

OL Mike Person: A guy whose number they could keep for any injuries this season.

WR Tony Stevens: I didn’t know much about him.

RB CJ Spiller: Big surprise here. I’m not sure what to think. The Chiefs have just two backs on the roster now - Kareem Hunt and Charcandrick West. Here’s my speculation on what could happen (which you can laugh at when it’s wrong).

WR Robert Wheelwright: He was added right before training camp and probably didn’t have a great shot to make it.

S Leon McQuay: First draft pick down. He was a sixth rounder this year. He could come back to the practice squad. I would be surprised if the Chiefs were done with him.

S Steven Terrell: I didn’t predict him to make and many others didn’t either but he flashed a little.

CB Larry Scott: I didn’t know much about him.

DL Maurice Swain: Like the other d-linemen on this list, it’s tough to crack this rotation.

NT Cam Thomas: Roy Miller was signed a few weeks ago so does Miller now make it?

LB Justin March-Lilliard: The writing was on the wall. He won this job out of camp a year ago and now he’s cut. He was buried on the depth chart at inside linebacker.

TE Orson Charles: So it looks like the Chiefs are going with three tight ends: Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris and Ross Travis.

G Andrew Tiller: Not a surprise but it wasn’t unheard of to predict him to make it. He was signed this offseason. The Chiefs have a few guards they like.

OL Josh James: The Chiefs backup offensive linemen weren’t great this preseason. We’ll see what James’s next step is.

WR Marcus Kemp: Noo! He was a preseason favorite by the Chiefs. I thought he had a shot with his receiving ability and special teams work. Practice squad lock, I think.

LB Marcus Rush: Preseason star last year for the 49ers and showed some talent for the Chiefs this year.

DL Ricky Ali’ifua: Tough to make this talented defensive line.

RB Devine Redding: Gotta be headed to the practice squad.

CB Trevon Hartfield: Don’t know a whole lot about him, to be honest.

QB Joel Stave: Not a surprise as he was the fourth quarterback all preseason. I suppose this means Tyler Bray is likely to make it, which we expected.

WR Tevin Jones: He scored a long touchdown in the Chiefs final preseason game.

LB Earl Okine: He’s a 6’6, 290 edge rusher. He could be a practice squad candidate. I would’ve loved to see a GIANT edge rush with him and Tanoh Kpassagnon.

CB De’Vante Bausby: Some thought he might make it. Practice squad candidate.

TE Gavin Escobar: Minor surprise here. We had him on our 53-man and so did the KC Star and ESPN. Good news for Ross Travis?

DL David King traded to Titans: Good for the Chiefs to get something out of a guy they were likely to cut. King is good but the Chiefs are stacked at d-line.

OT Jah Reid: He was cut after the Chiefs acquired Cameron Erving in a trade.

LB Josh Mauga: He was cut last week to make room for Reggie Ragland.