The Kansas City Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster has been set ahead of the 2024 NFL season. Now, the Chiefs’ front office is turning its attention to the team’s practice squad as the defending champions look to retain some training camp favorites while exploring the rest of the league’s roster for a chance to bolster their depth.
Chiefs Announce Official Signings
The team officially announced 16 signings to its practice squad on Wednesday afternoon, comprised entirely of players it released on Tuesday:
RB Emani Bailey
LB Swayze Bozeman
S. Deon Bush
LB Cole Christiansen
TE Baylor Cup
DT Matt Dickerson
DT Neil Farrell
RB Keaontay Ingram
BY Truman Jones
DT Fabien Lovett
OT Lucas Niang
WR Nikko Remigio
WR Justin Ross
CB Keith Taylor
WR Montrell Washington
With Godrick as the team’s designated player for international duty, that takes up 16 of the 17 spots on KC’s practice squad. The team also announced that it has waived cornerback Nic Jones, who would be a likely candidate to return to the practice squad if he goes unclaimed. The team has not announced the practice squad signings of quarterback Bailey Zappe or fullback Samaje Perine to the 53-man roster. The signing of Perine would come with a corresponding roster move, meaning another member of KC’s 53-man roster would have to be cut to make room for the veteran fullback — most likely another player the Chiefs would like to bring back to the practice squad. Ultimately, that means at least two members of KC’s original practice squad are still at risk of losing their roster spots.
Surprisingly, the practice squad does not include cornerback Kamal Hadden, a sixth-round pick in 2024, or former rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit. Rees-Zammit has reportedly agreed to a practice squad deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Second-year running back Deneric Prince is also out after competing for a roster spot during training camp and the preseason. Cornell Powell, a fifth-round pick in 2021, also appears to be done in Kansas City. According to Professional football referencePowell has played just three offensive snaps as a Chief and hasn’t seen the field since December 2022. In the absence of an official agreement with Zappe, the Chiefs did not re-sign quarterback Chris Oladokun, leaving them without a third-string quarterback until Zappe’s signing is made official.
QB Bailey Zappe
There’s a new quarterback in Kansas City, as the team is reportedly signing former New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe to the practice squad, according to Jordan Schultz. After an up-and-down preseason with third-round quarterback Chris Oladokun and fourth-round quarterback Ian Book, head coach Andy Reid appears to have a new quarterback prospect in development.
To learn more about adding Zappe, click here.
WR Justin Ross
After what must have been a disappointing end to the offseason, receiver Justyn Ross was released after KC acquired veteran receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster shortly before cuts were due. Now, Ross is returning to KC’s practice squad, according to Schultz.
WR Nikko Remigio
Wide receiver Nikko Remigio, a preseason fan favorite and potential special teams weapon, is signing with the Chiefs’ practice squad, according to Sam McDowell.
S. Deon Bush
The Chiefs are returning veteran safety Deon Bush to their practice squad, according to Adam Schefter. Bush, 31, appeared in 16 games for KC in 2022 and six in 2023, in addition to the Chiefs’ seven playoff games in those two years. Bush was also released and signed to the practice squad during roster cuts last season before being promoted multiple times and re-signed to an active roster contract in December.
LB Cole Christiansen
Linebacker Cole Christiansen, 27, is returning to the practice squad, according to Jesse Newell. He played in five games with the Chiefs last season and one game in 2022, playing only on special teams so far.
LB Swayze Bozeman
Undrafted rookie free agent linebacker Swayze Bozeman appears to be planning a return to the practice squad, according to Bozeman himself.
RB Emani Bailey
Former Louisiana and TCU running back Emani Bailey is returning to Kansas City on the practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson. Bailey went undrafted earlier this year after rushing for 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns in his final college campaign. He recorded 10 carries for 29 yards in the preseason for the Chiefs.
TE Baylor Cup
The Chiefs will retain tight end Baylor Cupp, according to Wilson.
The Chiefs can have up to 17 players on their practice squad, with several key limitations.
Each team has the option to play one designated player from the league’s International Pathway program. For the Chiefs, that player is Nigerian offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, who is entering his second year with the team. He would be the “17th” member of the practice squad. That exemption would not apply to Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who is expected to occupy a regular spot on the practice squad.
In total, NFL practice squads can include up to six veterans (players with an unlimited number of accrued seasons), up to four players with no more than two accrued seasons, and one IPP player. The remaining six spots are limited to rookies or players with fewer than nine games of regular-season experience.
Read more: The 53 most snubbed players from the Chiefs’ initial 2024 roster
