Chiefs sign Blake Lynch to reinforce linebacker depth after likely season-ending injury to Jack Cochrane
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a roster move ahead of their Week 18 tilt with the Denver Broncos. Elite Loyalty Sports agency announced on social media on Monday morning that their client, LB Blake Lynch, has signed to the Chiefs' practice squad. There's no word on a corresponding move to make room for Lynch […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a roster move ahead of their Week 18 tilt with the Denver Broncos.
Elite Loyalty Sports agency announced on social media on Monday morning that their client, LB Blake Lynch, has signed to the Chiefs' practice squad. There's no word on a corresponding move to make room for Lynch on the practice squad yet, but it was full prior to this announcement, which means the team will need to make room. It's possible that there's more to this move, including another practice squad player being promoted to the 53-man roster.
Why did the Chiefs sign Lynch to the practice squad?
This move comes just days after the Chiefs placed LB Jack Cochrane on injured reserve. Cochrane fractured his left ankle in the Week 16 game against the Houston Texans. At the time of his injury, he led the Chiefs on special teams with 297 snaps played. He was also key depth at the linebacker position, serving as the team's reserve MIKE linebacker behind Nick Bolton. In the weeks since Cochrane's injury, the Chiefs have elevated LB Swayze Bozeman from the practice squad. Earlier in the year, the team exhausted practice squad elevations for LB Cole Christiansen. Adding a player like Lynch gives them another option for practice squad elevations.
Lynch's NFL background unmasked
An undrafted free agent out of Baylor in 2020, Lynch is one of the few UDFAs to stick in the league during the height of COVID. The 27-year-old spent two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 and 2021, appearing in 17 regular season games with six starts. During those seasons, Lynch recorded 47 total tackles, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, two passes defended, and an interception. Since his time in Minnesota, Lynch has bounced around, spending time with the Arizona Cardinals, two separate stints with the Los Angeles Chargers, a brief stay with the Seattle Seahawks, and most recently, time spent on the Las Vegas Raiders' practice squad. In his full season with the Vikings in 2021, Lynch played a high percentage of special teams snaps.
Predicting Chiefs’ starters for Week 18 vs. Broncos with Patrick Mahomes, other star players expected to rest
What could the Kansas City Chiefs starting lineup look like in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos?
