Marina
With the 2025 NFL season on the horizon, the Kansas City Chiefs have unveiled a whirlwind of roster moves, adjusting their lineup across Reserve/Injured (IR), Non-Football Injury (NFI), waivers, and releases.
These changes are crucial in shaping their final 53-man roster and ensuring depth heading into their season opener. Here’s your detailed breakdown of the Chiefs’ latest roster shake-up.
Roster Moves Breakdown
Placed on Reserve/Injured (IR)
- Jake Briningstool (TE, Clemson) – designated for IR
- Brandon George (LB, Pittsburgh)
- Nazeeh Johnson (CB, Marshall)
Placed on Reserve/NFI (Non-Football Injury)
- Ethan Driskell (T, Marshall)
Waived Players
Wide-ranging departures across several positions:
- Elijhah Badger (WR, Florida)
- Owen Carney (DE, Illinois)
- Ajani Carter (CB, Houston)
- Dalton Cooper (T, Oklahoma State)
- Jacobe Covington (S, USC)
- Mac Dalena (WR, Fresno State)
- Chukwuebuka Godrick (T, No College)
- C.J. Hanson (G, Holy Cross)
- Azizi Hearn (CB, UCLA)
- Jimmy Holiday (WR, Louisiana Tech)
- Coziah Izzard (DT, Penn State)
- Cam Jones (LB, Indiana)
- Kevin Knowles (CB, Florida State)
- Joey Lombard (C, South Dakota)
- Fabien Lovett (DT, Florida State)
- Nate Matlack (DE, Pittsburgh)
- Glendon Miller (S, Maryland)
- Xander Mueller (LB, Northwestern)
- Chris Oladokun (QB, South Dakota State)
- Esa Pole (T, Washington State)
- Hal Presley (WR, Baylor)
- Key’Shawn Smith (WR, SMU)
- Melvin Smith (CB, Southern Arkansas)
- Geor’Quarius Spivey (TE, Mississippi State)
- Carson Steele (RB, UCLA)
- Tre Watson (TE, Texas A&M)
- Michael Wiley (RB, Arizona)
- Major Williams (S, Carson–Newman)
- Bailey Zappe (QB, Western Kentucky)
Released Players
- Cole Christiansen (LB, Army)
- Mike Edwards (S, Kentucky)
- Mike Pennel (NT, Colorado State–Pueblo)
- Robert Tonyan (TE, Indiana State)
- Marlon Tuipulotu (DT, USC)
Roster Moves
| Category | Players Involved |
|---|---|
| IR (Reserve/Injured) | Briningstool, George, Johnson |
| NFI (Non-Football Injury) | Driskell |
| Waived Players | 28 players across WR, CB, TE, RB, QB, OL |
| Released Players | 5 veterans and contributors |
What These Moves Mean
IR Designations
Placing Briningstool, George, and Johnson on IR ensures they won’t count toward the active 53-man roster. Briningstool’s designation suggests a potential return later in the season, reflecting strategic roster management.
NFI Impact
Ethan Driskell’s move to NFI (Non-Football Injury) indicates an issue unrelated to team activities. As a result, he’ll miss at least the first four games and won’t count against the active roster—offering cap flexibility, but reducing line depth.
Waivers: Youth Reshuffling
Waiving 28 players largely represents a reset for the Chiefs’ developmental pipeline. It opens space for practice squad additions, undrafted free agents, and potential waiver claims.
Veteran Releases
The departures of Christiansen, Edwards, Pennel, Tonyan, and Tuipulotu signal a shift in veteran depth—perhaps making room for younger talent or adjusting salary cap distribution.
Strategic Implications
- Depth Concerns: Multiple losses in the tight end, linebacking, and defensive back groups heighten the importance of remaining veterans and new signees stepping up quickly.
- Cap Management: IR and NFI moves help preserve cap space while keeping options open for midseason returns.
- Youth Investment: Heavy waiver activity suggests the Chiefs are banking on developmental talent perhaps for special teams and depth.
- Veteran Reconfig: Releasing seasoned pros like Pennel and Tuipulotu may signal a trust in new faces or underscore positional needs the team aims to address through trades or late additions.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ aggressive 2025 roster purge underscores a roster in transition. By moving key players to IR or NFI, waiving nearly 30 individuals, and cutting ties with veteran contributors, they are positioning themselves for both short- and long-term competitiveness.
As they head into training camp’s final weeks and preseason wrap-up, expect further tweaks before the season opener.