The Chiefs have made their cuts to get the roster down to 53 players. To do so, they kept three quarterbacks, three running backs, six wide receivers, three tight ends, nine offensive linemen, seven defensive linemen, nine linebackers, 10 defensive backs and three on special teams.
Linebackers Tamba Hali and Dadi Nicolas will start the season on the PUP (Physically unable to perform) list, which means they are guaranteed to miss the first six weeks of the season. Running back Spencer Ware and cornerback Ashton Lampkin were placed on injured reserve.
Here is the Chiefs’ 53-man roster to begin 2017:
QB (3): Alex Smith, Patrick Mahomes, Tyler Bray
The Chiefs cut Joel Stave, which wasn’t a surprise. That assured Bray of a roster spot.
RB (3): Kareem Hunt, Charcandrick West, Anthony Sherman
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9167663/835654038.jpg)
Perhaps the Chiefs’ biggest surprise cut of the day came at the running back position in CJ Spiller. Spiller had a great camp and preseason and by all indications, looked to be making the team. Devine Redding was an expected cut in this group. With now two running backs and a fullback in Sherman, it’s our thought that the Chiefs must have some other plan at the position.
WR (6): Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley, Jehu Chesson, De’Anthony Thomas, Albert Wilson, Demarcus Robinson
The Chiefs wound up keeping six wide receivers as they usually do. We felt Marcus Kemp and Seantavius Jones were names to watch in making it here, but they were released. If Kemp and Jones can’t find work, both are almost certain locks for the practice squad.
TE (3): Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris, Ross Travis
Gavin Escobar was the first mini-surprise of the weekend. Most of us had him making it either as the Chiefs’ third or fourth tight end. The cut of Orson Charles would lead you to reasonably believe there will be no suspension resulting from the offseason arrest of Demetrius Harris.
OL (9): Eric Fisher, Mitch Morse, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Mitchell Schwartz, Bryan Witzmann, Zach Fulton, Cameron Erving, Parker Ehinger, Jordan Devey
No big surprises here other than perhaps Devey making the club. The Chiefs traded Isaiah Battle to the Seahawks for a conditional draft pick in 2018.
DL (7): Bennie Logan, Roy Miller, Chris Jones, Allen Bailey, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Jarvis Jenkins
As expected. We may have to designate Tanoh Kpassagnon a linebacker next time.
LB (9): Justin Houston, Dee Ford, Frank Zombo, Derrick Johnson, Ramik Wilson, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Ukeme Eligwe, Reggie Ragland, Terrance Smith
As noted above, the Chiefs kept Hali on the PUP list, which means he will be out at least the first six weeks of the season. It also means the Chiefs can use his roster spot on someone else. Justin March-Lillard, who actually started at linebacker for the Chiefs last season, was released.
DB (10): Eric Berry, Ron Parker, Daniel Sorensen, Eric Murray, Marcus Peters, Steven Nelson, Terrance Mitchell, Phillip Gaines, DJ White, Kenneth Acker
Safety Leon McQuay, this year’s sixth-round pick, was released. The release of De’Vante Bausby was a minor surprise depending on who you asked. Both are practice squad candidates.
Special teams (3): Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt, James Winchester
As expected.