Second-year linebacker Cooper McDonald is officially on the Reserve/Injured list for the Chiefs, meaning he’s out for at least the next four games. This move came right before Wednesday’s practice, a direct result of the knee injury McDonald picked up in the first quarter of Monday’s big 31-10 win against the Denver Broncos. He was covering a kickoff after the first touchdown, a brutal hit that knocked him out of the game and now off the field for a while. Talk about a gut punch right after a dominant win.
Immediate Impact and the Next Man Up
Who’s stepping into the active roster? It’s fullback Ben VanSumeren, and this guy’s already seen some action. He was elevated from the practice squad to play against the Broncos, a pretty quick turnaround after joining the squad post-final cuts. And get this: in his Red and Gold debut, VanSumeren was a special teams beast, logging 79 percent of the Chiefs’ special teams snaps. He even got in on three offensive plays. You gotta love that hustle, especially when a key guy like McDonald goes down. It shows this team is ready to adjust on the fly and trust guys who are putting in the work.
New Faces Joining the Practice Squad Mix
The Chiefs weren’t done there, adding a couple of important pieces to the practice squad too. Defensive end Michael Heldman is now in the mix, and this dude has some serious college chops. He racked up 10.5 sacks in his last college season at Central Michigan, which is no joke. Heldman went undrafted and was with the Saints for camp before hitting their Reserve/Injured list at the cutdown. He settled with them on September 3, so he’s good to go and looking for a shot.
Then there’s cornerback Melvin Smith Jr., who’s making a return to the Chiefs. Smith was waived in the final cuts, then the Titans grabbed him off waivers, only to cut him again before he even played a game. He signed to KC’s active roster from the practice squad late in 2025, but never made it onto the field. So, he’s got that hunger to finally get his chance. It’s a revolving door sometimes, but it means these guys are fighting for every opportunity. Finally, safety Tanner McCalister’s practice squad contract was terminated as part of these moves.
So, what does all this mean for the Chiefs moving forward? Losing McDonald for four games is tough, no doubt, but seeing VanSumeren already step up like he did against the Broncos is a huge positive. These next few weeks are gonna be a real test of depth, especially with Heldman and Smith Jr. joining the practice squad. Keep an eye on how these new guys integrate and if they can make an impact. The team’s gotta keep that momentum from the Broncos win, and relying on these new faces will be key.
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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