Bashaud Breeland is officially back with the Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland is back with the team, as made official by the league’s transaction report on Tuesday. Breeland missed the Chiefs’ first four games serving a suspension stemming from a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Chiefs defensive backs and cornerbacks coach Sam Madison said he’s followed the 28-year-old cornerback from afar as the beginning of the season rolled along.

“I’ve been following him on his social media, watching him throughout the course of his workouts and doing everything,” said Madison. “He looks physically fit and ready to go. Before he left, he was in really good shape and understanding of the defense because this would be his second year into it so bringing that physicality back. He’s a big corner, he loves to hit, the same as (Charvarius) Ward. These guys they love to tackle. He had his best game, his last game of his season that was in the Super Bowl, so hopefully he’ll be able to pick up right where he left off and give coach [Steve Spagnuolo] another weapon to be able to put out there and play man-to-man and be able to limit somebody’s big runs of the teams that we’re about to get ready to play coming up.”

In 16 games last season, Breeland tallied 48 tackles (37 solo), eight passes defensed, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown. He also recorded an interception in the team’s Super Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

To make room for Breeland on the 53-man roster, the Chiefs have waived wide receiver Marcus Kemp.

Kemp, 25, earned another opportunity with the Chiefs during this year’s training camp after tearing his ACL in August 2019 and being placed on injured reserve. Kemp made the team as its sixth receiver. As of Week 4, had registered 44 special teams snaps — sixth-most on the team.

The expectation is that the wide receiver will re-join the club as a member of its practice squad once he clears waivers, as reported by Nate Taylor of The Athletic.