Chiefs practice squad tracker: roster moves, trades, claims and more

The Kansas City Chiefs have now established their initial 53-man roster for 2021 . The next step is to create their practice squad for the coming season. Under special rules extended from 2020, they can sign up to 16 players — including up to six veterans with any amount of experience — who will be able to participate in the team’s practices. They may also be activated to the active roster — or elevated to the roster for individual games.

When they have completed signing their practice-squad players, the Chiefs will make an official announcement. Until then, we’ll track reports of those signings — along with other Chiefs roster news.

Chiefs practice squad signings

Officially signed, per NFL transactions report

• S Zayne Anderson
• CB DiCaprio Bootle
• CB Shakur Brown
• DT Cortez Broughton
• QB Shane Buechele
• DT Tyler Clark (then waived on Friday)
• LB Omari Cobb
• WR Gehrig Dieter
• DL Austin Edwards
• WR Maurice Ffrench
• RB Derrick Gore
• DE Demone Harris
• S Devon Key
• WR Cornell Powell
• LB Christian Rozeboom
• OL Prince Tega Wanogho
• C Darryl Williams

Reported signings

• DT Benito Jones

Cuts, waiver claims, practice squad news, updates

All times are Arrowhead Time

Friday

• 4:52 p.m. The team has signed defensive tackle Cortez Broughton, cornerback Shakur Brown, and linebacker Christian Rozeboom to the practice squad, per Sam McDowell on Twitter. McDowell also reported the release of defensive tackle Tyler Clark, who was originally signed to the practice squad on Thursday. All of these transactions were confirmed on Friday’s official NFL transactions report.

Thursday

• 8:51 a.m. Per Wednesday’s second NFL transaction report, 14 players were signed to the Chiefs practice squad. All had been previously reported here, except for DT Tyler Clark, RB Derrick Gore and OL Prince Tega Wanogho. Meanwhile, previously reported signings LB Cortez Broughton, CB Shakur Brown, DT Benito Jones and DT Christian Rozeboom were not listed in Wednesday’s official report. We will continue to monitor both reported and official signings.

Wednesday

• 11:20 a.m. Former Chiefs defensive end Tim Ward claimed by New York Jets, per Tom Pelissero. Ward was an undrafted free agent signing after the 2019 draft. He was on the gameday roster for some of the 2020 season, with a big performance in the Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He totaled three sacks this preseason.
• 11:20 a.m. Former Chiefs cornerback BoPete Keyes claimed by Indianapolis Colts, per Tom Pelissero. Keyes totaled three tackles in the preseason, and was a part of the 53-man roster all of 2020.
• 11:24 a.m. Wide receiver Gehrig Dieter is being signed to the practice squad, per Doug Kyed of PFF on Twitter. He’s appeared in 13 games over three seasons with the Chiefs, including three postseason games. He totaled three catches and 43 yards in those games.
• 11:30 a.m. Defensive end Demone Harris is being signed to the practice squad, per NFL Draft Diamonds on Twitter. It was later confirmed by Herbie Teope on Twitter. Harris is back with the Chiefs after two seasons on and off the team’s practice squad. He was part of the active roster for the Super Bowl LIV title.
• 11:34 a.m. Defensive lineman Austin Edwards is being signed to the practice squad, per Herbie Teope on Twitter. Edwards was an undrafted free agent rookie this offseason, and played defensive tackle for the team in training camp and the preseason.
• 11:38 a.m. Safety Devon Key is being signed to the practice squad, per Sam McDowell on Twitter. Key was an undrafted free agent rookie this offseason. After starting offseason practices on a strong note, his preseason performance pushed him to be initially cut.
• 11:41 a.m. Safety Zayne Anderson is being signed to the practice squad, per Sam McDowell on Twitter. Anderson was an undrafted free agent rookie this offseason.
• 11:44 a.m. Linebacker Omari Cobb is being signed to the practice squad, per Sam McDowell on Twitter. Cobb played in last season’s Week 16 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons; he totaled one tackle in the game.
• 11:58 a.m. Center Darryl Williams is being signed to the practice squad, per Herbie Teope on Twitter. Williams was an undrafted free agent signing in the 2020 offseason. He spent all of 2020 on the practice squad.
• 11:59 a.m. Running back Darwin Thompson will join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad, per Sam McDowell on Twitter. Thompson played sparingly over his two seasons in Kansas City — totaling 333 yards and three touchdowns. He was beat out for the third running back position on the Chiefs this season by Jerick McKinnon.
• 12:02 p.m. Wide receiver Cornell Powell is being signed to the practice squad, per Herbie Teope on Twitter. Powell was one of the Chiefs’ fifth-round selections this season. He caught four passes for 44 yards this preseason — but was beat out for a spot on the 53-man roster by Daurice Fountain. General manager Brett Veach confirmed Powell’s spot on the practice squad in his Wednesday afternoon press conference.
• 12:03 p.m. Former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom is being signed to the practice squad, per Herbie Teope on Twitter. As Teope noted, Rozeboom is 6’2” and 230 pounds. He spent last offseason on the Rams’ practice squad, and was cut by the Rams this week.
• 12:04 p.m. Quarterback Shane Buechele is being signed to the practice squad, per Herbie Teope on Twitter. Buechele was an undrafted rookie free agent from this year’s draft. He impressed as the third-string quarterback this preseason, with his best performance coming in the preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
• 12:08 p.m. Former Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Cortez Broughton is being signed to the practice squad, per Herbie Teope on Twitter. Broughton was a seventh-round selection of the Chargers in the 2019 draft. He appeared in 11 games for the Chargers over two seasons, totaling nine tackles.
• 12:18 p.m. Former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Benito Jones is being signed to the practice squad, per Herbie Teope on Twitter. Jones spent the offseason with the Dolphins, and originally entered the league by signing with them as an undrafted free agent from the 2020 draft. He appeared in six games for the Dolphins in 2020, totaling two tackles and a tackle for loss.
• 12:49 p.m. Wide receiver Maurice Ffrench is being signed to the practice squad, per Sam McDowell on Twitter. Ffrench was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 draft. He spent all of last season on the Chiefs’ practice squad.
• 1:46 p.m. Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Shakur Brown is being signed to the practice squad, per Herbie Teope and Dave Birkett on Twitter. Brown was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Steelers after the 2021 Draft, and was released last week. He was a first-team All-Big Ten cornerback at Michigan State University in 2020.
• 4:27 p.m. Cornerback DiCaprio Bootle is being signed to the practice squad, per Sam McDowell on Twitter. Bootle was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason. He had been working as a slot cornerback with the reserve defensive units in the preseason, totaling 9 tackles, a sack, and a pass defended.