The Kansas City Chiefs placed two young players on injured reserve ahead of their first full-roster training camp practice, opening a pair of spots on the 90-man offseason roster.

Defensive end/linebacker Ethan Downs and tight end John Michael Gyllenborg both suffered knee injuries and were placed on IR as a result. Those injuries will sideline the pair for the 2026 NFL season, ending their years before they even truly begin.

The roster moves raise questions about Kansas City’s depth at tight end, edge rusher, and linebacker heading into camp. Chiefs GM Brett Veach will have some work to do as the team opens up camp.

What happened with Downs and Gyllenborg

Downs tore his ACL during Saturday’s practice on a red zone collision with rookie RB Emmett Johnson. It’s an injury that would have ended his season regardless of the injured reserve designation.

Gyllenborg, meanwhile, suffered what Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters was a knee sprain that was undergoing further testing. Both players have now been officially placed on injured reserve.

It’s hard not to feel like Gyllenborg’s situation rhymes with Travis Kelce’s first season in Kansas City. A promising young tight end suffers a knee injury that ends up being more than initially expected. Gyllenborg, a Kansas City local, will likely remain as an injured reserve stash on the roster.

The same goes for Downs, who was fighting for a roster spot as a depth pass rusher and special teamer. He could still return to contribute in future years, but the immediate reality for both players is clear: Neither will play during the 2026 NFL season.

How the Chiefs might fill 2 open roster spots

With training camp practices starting around the league, Kansas City will likely bring in tryout players during camp. Those players will have a chance to impress during practice before potentially signing a contract with the team.

The Chiefs were already thin at tight end before the Gyllenborg injury. They did not make many additions at the position this offseason and had already added a tryout player in Mason Pline.

Will they add another tryout player to fill out the ranks with Gyllenborg now on injured reserve? Certainly possible. They could also address other positions with the open spot depending on how they feel about depth elsewhere on the roster.

Linebacker and edge rusher quietly become areas to watch

Linebacker is one position that could quietly become a need with Downs heading to injured reserve. He was a hybrid player looking to fill a role similar to Leo Chenal’s, someone who can play off-ball, rush the passer, and contribute on special teams.

With Downs’ pass rush skills now off the table, Kansas City could also look into adding a veteran free agent edge rusher. However, these moves would likely be bottom-of-the-roster depth additions rather than top-end contributors.

Right now, the Chiefs need to churn that depth at the bottom of the roster and create competition among the players they already have. It’s very likely that any additions at this stage would be considered camp bodies, players brought in to push the existing roster rather than claim significant roles.

The Chiefs open training camp practice with the full roster on Wednesday.