Chiefs Bring in Running Back Michael Wiley Ahead of Roster Cuts

Well, well, well. Here we go again with another “strategic” Chiefs signing that has all the emotional weight of watching your favorite childhood restaurant get turned into a parking lot. The Kansas City Chiefs, apparently running out of creative ways to break hearts during training camp, have decided to sign former Washington Commanders running back Michael Wiley to fill their last remaining roster spot on the 90-man squad.

According to reporter Matt Derrick, who probably delivered this news with all the enthusiasm of a weather forecast, the Chiefs made this move with just two practices left in training camp. Because nothing says “we’ve got our stuff together” quite like scrambling to fill roster spots when you’re practically at the finish line.

The Injury Bug Strikes Again in Kansas City

The Chiefs found themselves with an open roster slot after placing two players on injured reserve following their preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Safety Deon Bush tore his Achilles – you know, that injury that makes grown men cry and sends sports fans into therapy while defensive end Janarius Robinson suffered a fractured foot. Both injuries occurred during what was supposed to be a routine preseason game, proving once again that football doesn’t care about your plans or feelings.

So here comes Michael Wiley, riding in like a bargain-bin superhero to save the day. Or at least to provide some depth while everyone else tries not to get hurt during practice.

Michael Wiley’s Journey from Arizona to Chiefs Practice Squad

Let’s talk about Michael Wiley’s resume, shall we? This guy went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft shocking, I know  and subsequently signed with the Washington Commanders as a rookie free agent. But here’s where it gets really heartwarming: he didn’t make their active roster. Instead, he spent the entire season on the practice squad, which is basically the NFL equivalent of being the understudy in a Broadway show that never has any actual emergencies.

The Commanders brought him back on a futures deal to start the new league year, probably thinking, “Hey, maybe this time will be different.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. They released him before training camp even started this summer, which is roughly the equivalent of getting dumped before the first date.

During his five-year stint at Arizona, Wiley actually showed some promise. The guy caught 123 passes out of the backfield for the Wildcats and found the end zone 28 times. Those are decent numbers, the kind that make you think, “Maybe this kid has something.” But apparently, NFL scouts looked at his tape and thought, “Nah, we’re good.”

The Chiefs’ Running Back Room Gets More Crowded

Here’s where things get interesting, and by interesting, I mean potentially devastating for some young players’ dreams. The Chiefs already have a pretty established pecking order in their backfield. Isiah Pacheco is the undisputed starter, the guy who runs like he’s being chased by his student loan payments. Behind him, Elijah Mitchell and Kareem Hunt have been getting solid carries in practices and that first preseason game, looking like they’ve got their spots locked up tighter than Fort Knox.

Then there’s seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith, who feels like a good bet to make the active roster out of camp. The kid’s got that rookie energy and the kind of potential that makes coaches salivate. Meanwhile, fullback Carson Steele might be on the outside looking in, which has got to feel about as comfortable as wearing wet socks.

But here’s the real kicker – and I mean this literally breaks your heart there’s Elijah Young, the rookie free agent who’s been grinding away, probably dreaming of making it to the big leagues. This kid signed as an undrafted free agent, which means he’s been fighting for every single rep, every single chance to prove himself. He’s probably been calling his mom after every practice, telling her about his progress, maybe even allowing himself to dream about actually making the team.

The Brutal Mathematics of NFL Roster Cuts

Here’s the thing about the NFL that nobody likes to talk about: it’s a business built on crushing dreams. For every feel-good story about an undrafted rookie making the team, there are dozens of guys like Young and Wiley, fighting over scraps, hoping against hope that they’ll be the one who gets to stick around and chase their dreams for another year.

The Chiefs’ decision to bring in Michael Wiley this late in camp isn’t just about adding depth; it’s about creating competition, about making sure everyone knows their spot isn’t guaranteed. It’s smart business, sure, but it’s also the kind of move that makes you remember why football can be so beautifully brutal.

So as training camp winds down and the Chiefs prepare for their second preseason game, keep an eye on this running back battle. Somewhere in Kansas City, two young men are about to find out if their dreams survive another day, or if they’ll be packing their bags and wondering what might have been.

Because in the end, that’s what makes this game so compelling and so heartbreaking.