Chiefs claim center Austin Reiter, release Bryan Witzmann

The Kansas City Chiefs have claimed offensive lineman Austin Reiter from the Cleveland Browns via waivers, releasing Bryan Witzmann in the process. The move was first reported by Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot and later confirmed by the Chiefs.

Reiter, 26, first entered the league out of South Florida as a 2015 seventh-round draft pick made by the Washington Redskins. Reiter is listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 300 pounds.

The Browns acquired Reiter by signing him off the Redskins’ practice squad back in September of 2016. Reiter replaced Cam Erving at center for the Browns as Erving dealt with a bruised lung in early October, but he suffered a torn ACL in the game.

“(Reiter) was doing some really good things as a young player that we went and found and put on our football team,’’ Browns head coach Hue Jackson said after the injury, per Cleveland.com. “So hopefully he can get healthy and get back.”

Reiter appeared in 16 games for the Browns last season.

Reiter has only started the one game during his NFL career but started 36 games at center from 2012-14 at South Florida. He was also a two-time Rimington Award candidate, given to the nation’s top center.

The Witzmann release is a bit of a surprise, given the fact that he started 13 games at the left guard position for the Chiefs last season.

I believe Andrew Wylie remains your first guard off the bench, with Reiter entering the mix for the backup center position. I think the Chiefs will release another offensive lineman when tight end Demetrius Harris returns for Week 2, so I wonder if the next man to go is Jordan Devey, the team’s current backup at center.

It’s also worth noting that Mitch Morse is on a contract year.

Cutdown week remains undefeated in reminding you that the NFL is a business.