The Kansas City Chiefs had to do some maneuvering to facilitate the trade for wide receiver Josh Downs. The Chiefs’ lack of salary cap space was one of the biggest obstacles for Kansas City at the NFL trade deadline, and it needed a fix before Downs could officially join the team.

The Chiefs solved that issue in a relatively simple way. According to multiple reports, Kansas City converted $6.76 million of linebacker Nick Bolton’s salary into a signing bonus. This simple restructure cleared $3.3 million in salary cap space for the Chiefs.

Why the Chiefs needed to restructure Nick Bolton’s contract

Kansas City needed to make this move. Without it, the Chiefs would have had around $1.1 million in salary cap space. That simply isn’t enough to handle the procedural moves the team will need to make through the end of the 2026 NFL season. This move gives the team around $4.4 million to play with for the remainder of the year.

Without restructuring Bolton, they also wouldn’t have room to add another wide receiver in free agency. Potential options include Tyreek Hill once he’s healthy, or San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk once the club releases him.

Now Kansas City has the cap space to make typical procedural moves, such as promoting players from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Beyond that, the Chiefs have plenty of room to work out a contract for a potential free-agent addition.

Chiefs release DE Jack Pyburn and WR Nikko Remigio

The cap space was only half the equation. The Chiefs had 53 players on their roster, so they needed to open a spot for Downs. They announced two moves ahead of Wednesday’s practice.

Kansas City created that spot by releasing one of the team’s waiver-claim additions at the 53-man roster cut deadline. That is defensive end Jack Pyburn, who has been a healthy scratch for all eight games. Pyburn led the NFL in preseason sacks with the Buccaneers, but he never cracked the game-day lineup in Kansas City. It’s unclear whether he’ll rejoin the Chiefs’ practice squad.

The Chiefs also waived wide receiver Nikko Remigio from the 53-man roster. Remigio has been the team’s top return specialist on punts and kickoffs. He was recently dealing with a hip injury, but he did play in Kansas City’s last game. He had a 69-yard return, but a penalty nullified it. Remigio has barely played offense, if at all. His role has been strictly limited to special teams. His narrow impact likely made this an easier decision for the Chiefs.

It’s entirely possible both players rejoin the team on the practice squad. Remigio, in particular, could return and be elevated as a return specialist in the weeks ahead. Kansas City also has other options.

Rookie RB Emmett Johnson has shown ability on kick returns, as well as as a runner and pass catcher on offense. Punt returns could be up his alley, too. The Chiefs could also elevate somebody from the practice squad to handle those duties, but they now have a role to fill there. Downs has 32 career punt returns, but putting him out as a return specialist will be the easiest way to burn any goodwill with the fanbase.

What the roster moves could mean for Omar Norman Lott

There are clearly changes coming to the bottom of Kansas City’s roster with the addition of Downs. The question is whether the Chiefs released two players to make room for more than one new face.

That makes you wonder whether DT Omar Norman-Lott will be activated to the 53-man roster from the Reserve/PUP list this week. He has just a few days left in his 21-day practice window. Before it closes, the Chiefs must decide whether to add him to the 53-man roster or leave him on injured reserve for the rest of the 2026 NFL season.

Given the two roster moves, I’d wager Norman-Lott will be back this week and play against the Atlanta Falcons. It would be his first game action since Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season. If that happens, the Chiefs will have added a new receiver and a returning piece on the defensive line in the same week. Keep an eye on the practice squad as well, because Pyburn and Remigio may not be gone for long.