The Kansas City Chiefs are making Tamba Hali into a relief pitcher. As Terez Paylor first predicted a few days ago, the Chiefs are keeping Tamba on the PUP list to start the regular season. This means that he will be out at least the first six weeks of the season and possibly longer. I’m not sure what the exact injury is but his knee has been an issue in the past.
What’s interesting here is that Tamba Hali said earlier this offseason that he was healthy and he wanted to play more. However, the Chiefs placed him on the PUP list at the start of camp and he didn’t practice at all during camp or play at all during the preseason.
I kinda like this move - even though I bet Tamba doesn’t - because it will keep him fresh for the second half of the season, which the Chiefs apparently believed was a problem last year. Tamba played a ton in the Chiefs first game of the season and just seven snaps in the playoff game against PIttsburgh.
What this move also means is that Tamba won’t count against the Chiefs 53-man roster so they can keep another player. Perhaps they keep another pass rusher to make up for Tamba’s loss or maybe they add at another position like receiver.
This Tamba situation does seem a little weird. However, I think the Chiefs are going to be able to handle it. We’ll see ...