Chiefs Place Starter on Injured Reserve Amid NFL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Dec 20, 2025 9:08 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs will have an extended offseason to regroup and prepare for battle under head coach Andy Reid.

The Chiefs were recently eliminated from the playoffs with three games remaining in the regular season.

Kansas City will play the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. While the Chiefs still have a talented bunch, several players will be missing from the lineup.

One of the key players who will be sidelined for the Chiefs is linebacker Leo Chenal.

Chenal has been placed on injured reserve, shutting him down for the remainder of the NFL season. The Chiefs will now be playing without their starting linebacker for the last three weeks of the NFL season.

"We have placed LB Leo Chenal and T Jawaan Taylor on Reserve/Injured," posted the official social media account of the Kansas City Chiefs.

We have signed Practice Squad players T Chukwuebuka Godrick, QB Chris Oladokun, and RB Dameon Pierce to active roster contracts.

We have activated Practice Squad players LB Cole Christiansen and T Matt Waletzko via Standard Elevation.

We have placed LB Leo Chenal and T Jawaan… pic.twitter.com/KjOkL8AlB3
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 20, 2025

Leo Chenal has played a huge part in the Kansas City Chiefs' defense over the past four seasons, helping lead Andy Reid's team to two Super Bowl titles.

Chenal has been with the Chiefs since 2022, having made three straight trips to the Super Bowl before the team was eliminated in 2025.

He finished his season posting one interception and two sacks to go along with 25 solo tackles.

The trip to injured reserve is rare for Chenal. Before this season, the Chiefs' linebacker had played all 17 games in each three straight seasons.