The Kansas City Chiefs are hitting Sunday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts already feeling the crunch, having officially called up a pair of practice squad players yesterday. This isn’t just a routine move; it tells you everything about the tight spots they’re in, especially with a primetime matchup on the horizon. They activated linebacker Cole Christiansen and defensive tackle Marcus Harris via standard elevation.
Linebacker Corps Is Running on Fumes
Yikes, their linebacker corps is running on fumes! Losing Cooper McDonald to a knee injury in Week 1 and sticking him on the Reserve/Injured list means he’ll miss at least the next four contests. That puts the Chiefs down to just four linebackers on their 53-man roster. That’s a major problem when you’re facing a Sunday Night Football game. Enter Cole Christiansen. This dude has been bouncing between the active roster and practice squad since 2022, a true journeyman. He’s played in 15 regular season games for Kansas City, which sounds good, right? But here’s the kicker: Christiansen has *never* taken a single defensive snap with the team. Never! He was mostly a special teams ace, logging at least 67% of those snaps in all three of his 2025 appearances. Now, with bodies light, he’s available on Sunday, and you gotta wonder if he finally gets some time on defense.
Chris Jones’ Calf and Harris’s Last Call
The situation on the defensive line is just as precarious, maybe even more so. The Chiefs called up defensive tackle Marcus Harris for the second week in a row, and it feels like an emergency insurance policy. Harris actually made the active roster out of training camp this year, only to be waived the very next day as the team kept tweaking things. He signed with the practice squad, got elevated for Week 1, and took five defensive snaps against the Denver Broncos. But the real urgency? Star defensive tackle Chris Jones is questionable for Sunday’s contest with a calf ailment. This is massive. If Jones can’t go, Harris steps into a HUGE spot. And here’s the kicker of all kickers: The Chiefs can only elevate Harris from the practice squad *one more time* after this without having to add him to the 53-man roster permanently. This isn’t just about Sunday; it’s about their long-term depth strategy.
So, what does this all mean for Sunday night against the Colts? It means the Chiefs are patching holes. With McDonald out and Jones potentially sidelined, the depth at two critical defensive positions is being seriously tested. Fans need to watch how Christiansen handles any potential defensive duties and keep a close eye on Harris, knowing this could be his final practice squad elevation. It’s a big game under the lights, and these two practice squad elevations highlight just how thin the margin for error is right now.
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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