With the initial 53-man roster now set for the Kansas City Chiefs, the team turned its attention to filling out the 17-man practice squad. The Chiefs added 16 of the 17 players on Wednesday afternoon. Some of the signings included bringing back familiar faces, while others introduced new talent to Kansas City.
Offense Practice Squad Additions
First up, one of the more surprising moves was the practice squad signing of former New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe. Zappe, who served as the third-string quarterback in New England, now finds himself in a similar role with the Chiefs.
However, the circumstances are quite different. Zappe will be playing behind two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz. This opportunity allows Zappe, at just 25 years old with two years of NFL experience, to learn from the league’s best and further develop his skills.
To learn more about Zappe and his signing with the Chiefs, click here.
Among the more familiar faces returning to the team is wide receiver Justyn Ross, a fan favorite. Despite a strong camp and preseason, Ross didn’t make the initial 53-man roster and was waived. However, the Chiefs quickly brought him back. Ross, who joined the Chiefs in 2022, will continue developing with the championship-level franchise.
Wide receiver Nikko Remigio, another fan favorite and special teams coordinator Dave Toub’s favorite, was also signed to the practice squad. Toub had said he would “pound the table” for Remigio to make the initial 53-man roster due to his strong camp and special teams abilities. While things didn’t play out as expected, Remigio’s talents will still be utilized throughout the season.
Then there was receiver Montrell Washington, who also returned to the team. Washington has bounced between the active roster and practice squad, appearing in six regular-season games last season, mostly on special teams. His familiarity with the team and its operations makes him a valuable asset who could see game time during the 2024 season. Next up is running back Emani Bailey, a former University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Texas Christian University halfback. Bailey declared for the draft in 2024 but went undrafted. He ended his collegiate career with 1,209 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Last season, Bailey had 10 carries for 29 yards with the Chiefs.
As of Friday, August 30 the Chiefs have terminated the practice squad contract of Bailey, so the only running back that’s returning to the team’s practice squad is Keaontay Ingram.
He signed with the team back on November 30, 2023. Ingram was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 as a sixth-round pick but was waived on November 28, 2023. He now enters his second season on the Chiefs’ practice squad. The only tight end on the Chiefs 2024 practice squad is Baylor Cupp. Cupp joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite limited space in the tight end room, Cupp has shown enough to earn him a spot on the squad and will continue to develop with the team
Next is four-year veteran offensive tackle Lucas Niang, who returns to the Chiefs. The team drafted Niang in 2020, but he missed his rookie season due to opting out under COVID-19 protocols. His next season saw only nine games before a knee injury sidelined him. Niang played in 14 games with no starts but is back with the Chiefs to add depth to the offensive line. The final offensive practice squad player is Nigerian offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick. He also returns to the team as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program. Godrick enters his second season with the Chiefs.
Defense Practice Squad Additions
On the defensive side, veteran safety Deon Bush rejoined the team for his fourth season. Bush has appeared in 22 games for the Chiefs, with 16 in 2022 and six in 2023, including all seven playoff games over the past two years. Despite being cut last season, Bush was brought back to the practice squad, and it’s likely he’ll see playing time again this season.
Up next is linebacker Cole Christiansen who also returns to the practice squad after appearing in five games in 2023 and one in 2022, primarily on special teams. The Chiefs also added rookie undrafted free agent linebacker Swayze Bozeman to the practice squad. Bozeman, from the University of Southern Mississippi, played in all three 2024 preseason games, recording 14 tackles.
Keith Taylor, the only cornerback addition to the Chiefs practice squad in 2024 and former Carolina Panther. Taylor joined the Chiefs practice squad last season and played 133 defensive snaps during this year’s preseason. Moving into the defensive line additions, starting with defensive tackle Matt Dickerson who returns to the Chiefs for his fourth season. After being waived by the team in 2022, he was claimed by the Atlanta Falcons before rejoining the Chiefs the following May. Last season, Dickerson appeared in 12 games, totaling 12 tackles.
Defensive tackle Neil Farrell is also back on the practice squad after being drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. Farrell played in only nine games with the Raiders before being traded to the Chiefs last season, where he played in three regular-season games and was active for the final two playoff rounds, recording a tackle in Super Bowl LVII.
Defensive end Truman Jones returns to the practice squad as well for his second year. Despite some preseason flashes, he didn’t make the initial 53-man roster but will continue to develop with the Chiefs. Then the final practice squad addition is defensive tackle Fabien Lovett, who joined the Chiefs after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. Lovett played at Mississippi State University and Florida State University, finishing his collegiate career with 93 total tackles. This preseason, he played 56 defensive snaps.
Final Thoughts
Brett Veach, the Chiefs‘ general manager, has been methodical in his roster acquisitions. He’s added players familiar with the franchise, those from winning organizations, and rookies ready to be molded into championship-caliber athletes. Each player knows their role and the importance of staying ready. With the unpredictability of an NFL season, any of these players could find themselves called up to the 53-man roster, ready to contribute to the Chiefs’ pursuit of history.
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