Chiefs cut several surprising players, settle on 53-man roster

The defending AFC champs have set their 53-man roster. The Kansas City Chiefs announced the following moves:

Released:

• LB Cole Christiansen
• S Mike Edwards
• DT Mike Pennel
• TE Robert Tonyan
• DT Marlon Tuipulotu

Waived:

• WR Elijhah Badger
• DE Owen Carney
• CB Ajani Carter
• OT Dalton Cooper
• S Jacobe Covington
• WR Mac Dalena
• OT Chukwuebuka Godrick
• G C.J. Hanson
• CB Azizi Hearn
• WR Jimmy Holiday
• DT Coziah Izzard
• LB Cam Jones
• CB Kevin Knowles
• C Joey Lombard
• DT Fabien Lovett
• DE Nate Matlack
• S Glendon Miller
• LB Xander Mueller
• QB Chris Oladokun
• OT Esa Pole
• WR Hal Presley
• WR Key’Shawn Smith
• CB Melvin Smith
• TE Geor’Quarius Spivey
• RB Carson Steele
• TE Tre Watson
• RB Michael Wiley
• S Major Williams
• QB Bailey Zappe

Placed on reserve/NFI:

• OT Ethan Driskell

Placed on injured reserve:

• TE Jake Briningstool
• LB Brandon George
• CB Nazeeh Johnson

On the defensive side of the ball, Cam Jones was a somewhat surprising cut after getting into all 34 games for the Chiefs over the past two years. A former UDFA, Jones has seen the majority of his playing time on special teams, but he still got into 161 defensive snaps for Kansas City between 2023 and 2024. Over the span, the linebacker has collected 36 tackles. The team also moved on from veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel, who started seven of his 17 appearances for Kansas City in 2024.

On the other side of the ball, the team dropped 2024 preseason standout Carson Steele. The UCLA product had a brief chance to show his stuff immediately following Isiah Pacheco‘s injury, but a persistent fumbling issue had him tumbling down the depth chart. Steele ultimately finished his rookie season with 209 yards from scrimmage on 63 touches.