Kansas City Chiefs add former New Orleans Saints fifth-round draft pick to practice squad after successful tryout on Wednesday
The Kansas City Chiefs added wide receiver Bub Means to the practice squad, their second such signing since holding tryouts for nine players on Wednesday.
The Kansas City Chiefs have added more wide receiver depth to their practice squad after hosting nine players for tryouts on Wednesday.
Yesterday, Kansas City brought back WR Jacob De Jesus. He spent the offseason with the team after going undrafted out of Cal. De Jesus was released during 53-man roster cuts, so he already knows the building, the playbook, and the coaching staff.
Today, the Chiefs also signed a former Saints draft pick who has bounced around the league since entering the NFL in 2024. That player is WR Jerrod “Bub” Means, a former fifth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints out of the University of Pittsburgh.
Jerrod ‘Bub’ Means Quick Stats & Facts
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Means is best known for running a 4.4-second 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process.
- NFL Games Played: 7
- Starts: 1
- Receptions: 9
- Targets: 15
- Receiving yards: 118
- Touchdowns: 1
Injuries have stifled new Chiefs WR Bub Means’ early NFL career
Unfortunately, injuries have defined much of his young career. Means landed on injured reserve as a rookie with a high ankle sprain, which limited him to just seven games. Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, New Orleans placed him on injured reserve again with a season-ending ankle injury.
The Saints released Means as part of 53-man roster cuts ahead of the 2026 NFL season. He signed to the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad in September, but Cleveland released him in early November as part of an injury settlement. That cleared the way for him to try out in Kansas City and land a spot on the practice squad.
Why the Chiefs needed more wide receivers on the practice squad
The timing of these signings is no accident. The Chiefs have dealt with a string of wide receiver injuries recently, and the depth behind the active roster has gotten thin.
Before signing De Jesus and Means, Kansas City had only two wide receivers on its practice squad: Omari Evans and Justin Watson. With injuries piling up at the position, two practice squad receivers simply aren’t enough cushion. If the Chiefs need to elevate a receiver for game day, they want options that won’t leave them scrambling midweek.
Adding De Jesus gives them a player who has already been through an offseason in this offense. Adding Means gives them a different body type and a vertical element with his speed. Combine that with Evans and Watson, and the Chiefs now have four practice-squad receivers to lean on as injuries play out.
What this means for the Chiefs’ wide receiver room going forward
Wide receiver has been a sore spot for Kansas City in 2026. Beyond the injuries, the Chiefs have several players at the position who are pending free agents ahead of the 2027 NFL season. That puts the front office in a position where it has to think about both the current roster and next year’s room at the same time.
That’s where a player like Means comes in. As a former fifth-round pick who has flashed some ability when healthy, he could realistically be a developmental option for the Chiefs. He could earn a reserve/future contract when the season wraps up. Kansas City has turned practice squad players into contributors before. A 25-and-under receiver with 4.4 speed is worth a look.
At the very least, Means will give Kansas City an honest look on the scout team. For a team juggling injuries at the position, that alone has value.
