Cooper McDonald, the Chiefs’ second-year linebacker, has officially been designated to return to practice, igniting a 21-day window for the team to activate him to the 53-man roster. This is a big move for the Chiefs’ defense, especially after McDonald spent Weeks 2 through 6 sidelined on the Reserve/Injured list.
McDonald’s Return and His Rookie Punch
This isn’t just about adding depth; it is about getting a key player back into the mix. McDonald only saw two special teams snaps in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos before getting hurt, but he still managed to snag a tackle in that super short time. It really shows the kind of impact he can make. Remember last year? This dude made the team as a rookie minicamp tryout straight out of TCU, and then went on to play the third-most special teams snaps for the Chiefs. That is insane for a rookie! He wasn’t just a special teams ace either. By the end of his rookie year, he was getting defensive snaps, totaling 10 tackles, including one for loss, across 47 snaps in Weeks 17 and 18. He even got his first career start in the season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. The guy finished his rookie campaign with 25 tackles, showing real promise.
The SAM Linebacker Battle Heating Up
Heading into this season, the word was that McDonald was projected as the starting SAM linebacker in the base defense. That is a pretty big role, one that former Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal absolutely dominated. Now, with McDonald back on the field, the big question is whether he will step right back into that starting spot in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system. He will be looking to take that position back from veteran Jack Cochrane, who has been holding it down. Regardless of who starts, having the 6-foot-3-inch, 240-pound McDonald flying around the field is going to make a difference, especially on special teams, where he has already proven his worth. The Chiefs also brought in rookie Aiden Fisher to the practice squad and waived backup linebacker Cam Jones, who has been in and out of the team recently, plus terminated running back Nate Carter’s practice squad contract, showing they are really trying to shore up their depth.
Now that the 21-day clock has started, Chiefs Kingdom will be watching closely to see when No. 44 is ready to hit the game field. His return could be a major boost, bringing that special teams energy and a potential starter back to Spags’ defense.
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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