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If you were watching the NFL Network coverage of Kansas City Chiefs training camp practice on Wednesday morning, you may have noticed a jersey with “Kemp” on the back. Your eyes weren’t playing tricks on you; the network wasn’t running file footage.
According to a report from Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest, the Chiefs have re-signed wide receiver Marcus Kemp.
#Chiefs have indeed re-signed WR Marcus Kemp, a source tells Chiefs Digest. Had a tryout on Tuesday to showcase his full recovery from the torn ACL he suffered in last year's preseason. Was at practice with team this morning.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) August 19, 2020
As Derrick noted, Kemp tore an ACL a year ago, spending the 2019 season on injured reserve. It was an unfortunate injury, as Kemp had been widely seen as about to turn the corner in the third year of his career with the Chiefs, finally making the transition from special-teams player to wide receiver.
“Having him back is great,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told the media via Zoom on Wednesday. “He’s a great kid. I’m so glad that he’s back now because he was playing the best football he had ever played since we’d had him here when he got hurt. It was a shame that that happened, and now he’s getting a chance to come back — it’s looks like he’s worked his tail off. We worked him out [Tuesday]. He did a great job with it.
“He needs to get himself in to football shape as he goes, but he took some reps [Wednesday], did a nice job with it and we’ll just see how it goes.”
The Chiefs could have decided to make a restricted free agent tender to Kemp back in March but chose not to do so. Now, however, they feel he’s ready to compete for a chance to contribute to the 2020 campaign.