Chiefs make a move to create a 53-man roster spot ahead of Week 10 AFC West showdown with Broncos

The Kansas City Chiefs are down to 52 players on their roster after making a move to create some space ahead of Week 10's AFC West showdown with the Denver Broncos.

According to the NFL's daily personnel notice for Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Chiefs released LB Cole Christiansen from the 53-man roster. Christiansen was initially signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster back in mid-September ahead of Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season. He's been a core special teamer for Dave Toub during this time, playing over 50% of the team's special teams snaps in each of the last six games. He saw a season-high 19 snaps in Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills. 

Christiansen didn't play any defensive snaps during his time on the active roster, but he did manage a tackle on special teams. The Chiefs will have five linebackers remaining on the 53-man roster after Christiansen's release (Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, and Cam Jones). 

Look for players some recently added players like TE Peyton Hendershot, DE Joshua Uche, and others to help fill the void left by Christiansen on special teams.

What could the Chiefs use this roster spot for? 

It's still too early to see RB Isiah Pacheco and WR Hollywood Brown return from injured reserve, but this could be a move for a returning player. Charles Omenihu remains on the Reserve/PUP list due to last season's ACL injury in the AFC title game. He previously hinted at a Week 12 target return date, so opening his practice window for Week 10 and Week 11 to ramp him up, makes some sense. The Chiefs wouldn't necessarily need the roster spot until they activate Omenihu to the 53-man roster.

There are a few other possible options for Kansas City. One of those options includes signing a veteran or free agent to fill a position of need after they failed to make another addition at the NFL trade deadline. We know the Chiefs were interested in acquiring Saints CB Marshon Lattimore, so maybe they've got an addition in mind in free agency. They could add a player like Mike Edwards, who Buffalo released on Tuesday. Edwards knows the system after spending 2023 in Kansas City and could help with their issues covering tight ends.

Another possibility is that the Chiefs sign a player from their practice squad to prevent poaching. With many teams striking out at the NFL trade deadline, they're likely looking to improve their teams by other means, which includes looking around the league to sign players from other team's practice squads. Kansas City could also look into poaching a practice squad player themselves if there's someone out there they like.