The Kansas City Chiefs should soon be getting some reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball.

Chiefs second-year defensive tackle Omar Norman-Lott hasn’t played since Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season, when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Norman-Lott has been working his way back on the team’s reserve/PUP list, and the clock is now ticking on a decision about his status.

Chiefs’ 21-day practice window for Omar Norman-Lott

Kansas City designated Norman-Lott to return to practice on Oct. 28. That puts his 21-day window set to expire Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The Chiefs have just seven days to decide whether to bring him back from the reserve/PUP list and add him to the active 53-man roster or keep him on reserve for the rest of the season. If you’re not familiar with the process, the designation allows a player to practice with the team for up to 21 days before the club must either activate him or leave him on the list.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Norman-Lott is making progress. Spagnuolo also noted that the young defensive tackle still has a little ways to go before returning.

“Yeah, I watched him one-on-ones last week,” Spagnuolo said. “I thought he looked more like Omarr (Norman-Lott). I think he still got a little ways to go. Now I’m just going to trust the trainers on that. But they got him out there working and hopefully get him to the point where he can help us. But you know, we’re not there yet.”

As things stand, Norman-Lott doesn’t look likely to return in Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons, but Week 11’s game against the Arizona Cardinals appears to be the target return date.

What Chris Jones expects Norman-Lott to bring to the Chiefs’ defense

Chiefs DT Chris Jones also addressed Norman-Lott on Thursday, specifically what he expects him to bring to the table once he returns to the fold.

“Another guy to help us get up to the quarterback,” Jones said. “I think the skill set that Omarr (Norman-Lott) brings; he’s a really, really good pass rusher. We haven’t had him enough to kind of utilize his skill set. So to have him back, to have him in rotation, can add depth to the D-Line.”

Kansas City is still searching for consistency in getting after the quarterback. Jones believes Norman-Lott will add another good pass rusher to the mix, giving the defensive line another option in the rotation. That’s notable coming from the veteran who anchors the interior of Spagnuolo’s defense and knows what the group needs better than anyone

Jones also pointed out something that often gets overlooked with Norman-Lott. The Chiefs simply haven’t had him on the field enough to truly utilize and unlock his skill set. A season-ending injury after just seven weeks of his rookie campaign left little sample size for the coaching staff to work with.

Why Norman-Lott’s return matters for Kansas City

It remains to be seen what type of impact Norman-Lott will make. However, the Chiefs need all the help they can get on the defensive line right now. If Norman-Lott picks up where he left off last year, he should realistically be able to contribute as a pass rusher. That alone would give Spagnuolo another body to rotate in on passing downs and help keep Jones fresh as the season wears on.

The question is whether there’s more to his game than what fans saw before the injury. Perhaps he’s improved in other facets that won’t be realized until he sees the field again. A long rehab gives a young player time to work on his body and his technique, and Kansas City will get its first real look at the results soon enough. There’s a bit of an unknown here, and that’s what makes his return all the more exciting. All eyes will be on the Chiefs’ decision ahead of Wednesday’s deadline and whether Norman-Lott suits up against Arizona in Week 11.