Sunday brought the Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster reveal, and honestly, some of these cuts are making fans at Arrowhead wonder what’s going on. With Monday past 11:00 a.m. Arrowhead time, the scramble is officially on as unclaimed waived players become eligible to sign to the 16 practice squad spots.
Andrew Armstrong Was Their Preseason Leader. Gone.
You want to talk baffling? Let’s start with wide receiver Andrew Armstrong. This guy *led the entire team* in preseason with 7 receptions for 85 yards! His blocking was reportedly impressive, and he’s got a different body type and style from anyone else on the roster. It’s rare for wide receivers to be claimed off waivers after cuts, so there’s hope the Chiefs can get him back on the practice squad. But after that kind of production, how do you not find an initial spot? It makes you wonder what the coaches prioritize.
Familiar Faces Out, New Guys In
Then there’s offensive lineman Pole. He *started four games* for them last season and even took snaps with the first team during organized team activities this summer. But Sunday, he was gone. The kicker? The Chiefs traded a 2028 conditional sixth-round pick to the Ravens for 23-year-old undrafted tackle Diego Pounds, making Pole the odd man out. This is a guy they cut as an undrafted free agent last year, only to *bring him back* and start him! Wild.
Running back Emari Demercado, an offseason one-year signing, is also out. Rookie Emmett Johnson and second-year Brashard Smith apparently plain beat him out for roster spots. With Remigio sticking on primarily as a returner, Demercado’s path back looks even tougher.
The Slot Corner That Never Was
And don’t forget Kader Kohou. He was signed to be the starting slot corner! But coaches barely put him in preseason games until late, and when he played, he failed to stand out. With multiple names now in the conversation for that role and Kohou still recovering from a torn ACL last season, it sounds like he never got healthy enough to seize the opportunity. A real bummer.
Who Makes It Back To Arrowhead?
General Manager Brett Veach and Coach Andy Reid have some serious work to do filling those 16 practice squad spots. The hope has to be that other teams didn’t notice how productive Armstrong was, or how valuable Pole proved he could be last year. Getting these guys back in the fold is huge for depth. Let’s see who makes it back to Arrowhead this week as they gear up for Week 1.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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