Chiefs Announce Inactives for Thanksgiving Clash

While Roland-Wallace was ruled out with a back injury on Wednesday, Fulton listed as inactive Thursday is a bit of a surprise. An unrestricted free agent brought in to play, as defensive backs coach Dave Merritt said last week, Fulton had worked his way back into the rotation over the last two games.

Fulton missed much of the preseason recovering from offseason knee surgery, then injured his ankle in Week 2 and struggled to get back. The Chiefs gave him an opportunity over the last two games out of their Week 10 bye, but apparently they saw better matchups for Williams against the Cowboys.

Wiley is active

Tight end Jared Wiley, who tore his ACL last year during his rookie season, is active for the first time in 2025. He’s expected to play his first game in exactly 13 months, since the season-ending injury on Oct. 27, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Another active player is cornerback Joshua Williams, who will likely help to fill the void left by Roland-Wallace for Dave Toub and the Chiefs’ special teams. And, as expected, Noah Gray’s concussion will end his 87-game playing streak. He joins Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith (ankle) on the inactive list.

Rookie offensive lineman Esa Pole, who was elevated from the practice squad Wednesday, also is inactive. A fascinating story because he never played high school football, Pole got a free trip to Dallas for Thanksgiving but will have to wait for his NFL debut.

And, with Isiah Pacheco returning to action on Thursday, Elijah Mitchell is again inactive for Kansas City. Mitchell’s seat got a little hotter this week when the Chiefs signed free agent Dameon Pierce to their practice squad.

Dallas update

The Chiefs desperately need to attack a pair of voids left by the Cowboys’ inactives. Both starting left tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle) and starting cornerback Caelen Carson (hamstring) are out. Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo is a healthy scratch.

Here are the full inactive lists for both teams.

Kansas City Chiefs

• RB Elijah Mitchell

• WR Jalen Royals

• G Trey Smtih

• TE Noah Gray

• T Esa Pole

• DB Chris Roland-Wallace

• CB Kristian Fulton

Dallas Cowboys

• WR Jonathan Mingo

• DT Jay Toia

• DT Perrion Winfrey

• CB Caelen Carson

• OT Tyler Guyton

• RB Jaydon Blue

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