Chiefs release offensive lineman Jeff Allen

According to their official Twitter account, the Kansas City Chiefs released offensive lineman Jeff Allen on Thursday in order to make roster space for cornerback Morris Claiborne — who rejoined the team after his four-game NFL suspension was lifted on Monday.

Allen himself was taken by surprise.

Allen was on his third stint with the Chiefs.

Allen first entered the league when the Chiefs drafted him in the second round (44th overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft. A product of the University of Illinois, Allen became a starting guard for the Chiefs only four weeks into his rookie season, spending four years with the club before departing for the Houston Texans in free agency after the 2015 season.

Allen signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Texans, but he was placed on the physically unable to perform list after the 2017 season — and was eventually released with an injury settlement.

Allen was resigned to the Chiefs last October after a series of injuries on the offensive line had left the team shorthanded. The versatile Allen was a perfect solution to the problem. He played in 10 games for the Chiefs in 2018 — starting four of them.

The team allowed Allen to walk after the 2018 season, but resigned him again just before the beginning of the 2019 season. In 2019, Allen has been primarily a special teams player, gathering only a handful of snaps with the offense.