Chiefs make Matt Moore signing official, send John Lovett to injured reserve

The Kansas City Chiefs made the Matt Moore signing official on Tuesday morning, according to their official Twitter account. H-back John Lovett has been sent to injured reserve to make room for Moore on the 90-man roster.

Moore, 35, gives the Chiefs another option at backup quarterback after Chad Henne fractured his ankle in Kansas City’s preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. The fact that the team’s original backup in Henne has not been sent to injured reserve means the Chiefs likely expect him back sometime this season. The Chiefs also have Chase Litton and Kyle Shurmur as options.

The 23-year-old Lovett was an interesting player to watch for the Chiefs until he separated his right shoulder in the team’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals back on August 10.

Unlike Henne’s case, the decision to send Lovett to injured reserve ends his season. The Chiefs are allowed to return two players from injured reserve but only those who are on the Week 1 roster are eligible for such a designation. Lovett might have been a reach to make this year’s 53-man roster anyway, so the unfortunate predicament gives him an opportunity to continue to learn the Chiefs’ system with a better chance to make the team in 2020.

“Injuries, unfortunately, are a part of the game, but it’s something that you’ve got to get through mentally and obviously the rehab,” Travis Kelce said of Lovett back on August 14. “I’ve dealt with them ever since I moved to tight end (at the University of Cincinnati). I told John I’ve had eight surgeries since I moved to tight end. Welcome to the world. You’ve got to do certain things that keep your shoulders locked in and do certain things to keep your legs and hips locked in so you can withstand the pounding that this game has at the tight end position.

“He’s doing well. Mentally, he’s just got to stay in the playbook and be ready for his opportunity when he gets back out there.”

Now we know that will be next year.