Report: Chiefs sign veteran defensive tackle, release Terrell McClain

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed defensive tackle Mike Pennel, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. The Chiefs released DT Terrell McClain, who they had just signed 11 days ago, to make room for Pennel.

Pennel, 28, first entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers back in 2014. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound defensive tackle spent three years with the Packers before joining the New York Jets for two seasons. A free agent this offseason, Pennel signed with the New England Patriots, only to be released in late August.

Pennel has played in 69 career games with 15 starts. 10 of those starts came with the Jets from 2017-18. Pennel’s most productive season was 2017 when he registered 25 tackles (20 solo), including a quarterback hit. He has 102 career tackles (65 solo), including 10 quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one sack.

The Chiefs probably feel Pennel is a slight upgrade over McClain, who played 26 defensive snaps against the Houston Texans and 10 against the Denver Broncos before Kansas City moved on.

The Chiefs continue to wait for Chris Jones, who has missed the last two games with a groin injury, to return. The last update from the Chiefs was that Jones is “week to week.”