Kansas City Chiefs’ latest roster moves show what the rest of 2025 is about after placing QB Patrick Mahomes on injured reserve
The Kansas City Chiefs seem poised to turn over the reins to the young players on the roster in the final three weeks.
It was only a matter of time, but the Kansas City Chiefs have now officially placed QB Patrick Mahomes on injured reserve following his surgery to repair damaged ligaments in his left knee. The corresponding moves made today show precisely what the rest of the 2025 NFL season is about for this team, which, for the first time in over a decade, won’t be playing for the postseason.
With LB Leo Chenal (shoulder), Trent McDuffie (knee), Jawaan Taylor (elbow), Jaylon Moore (knee), Tyquan Thornton (concussion), and Rashee Rice (concussion) not practicing for the Week 16 game against the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, it feels like the Chiefs are shifting gears to find out what they can about certain players on the roster and practice squad. More players are likely bound for injured reserve, and more moves are coming for Kansas City based upon the other decisions they’ve now made.
Chiefs sign DT Zacch Pickens to the 53-man roster
The Chiefs have themselves a defensive tackle problem as Chris Jones remains the only interior player under contract who isn’t coming off a season-ending ACL injury (Omarr Norman-Lott). Listed at 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds, Pickens is a former third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s still only 25 years old. He’s appeared in 26 games with three starts over two seasons with the Chicago Bears, recording 39 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Can Pickens be part of the solution to Kansas City’s long-term problems at defensive tackle? That’s what the Chiefs are hoping to find out.
The Chiefs designate TE Jake Briningstool and CB Nazeeh Johnson to return from injured reserve
The Chiefs haven’t actually designated any players to return from injured reserve to this point in the season, which is a bit of a rarity. Both Johnson and Briningstool have been eligible to return from injured reserve since Sept. 29. Johnson suffered a shoulder injury in preseason Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, while Briningstool sustained a hamstring injury just days into training camp. They were both placed on injured reserve during roster cuts and were the two players to receive a return designation.
The Chiefs have a good idea about what they have in Johnson to this point in his career, but with Trent McDuffie banged up, he could play a role in Week 16. The more fascinating situation is with Briningstool, who could be a big part of the team’s future, with Travis Kelce weighing retirement. Remember, he was earning first-team repetitions in training camp before he got hurt.
Chiefs bring WR Jimmy Holiday back to the practice squad
This is now the second time that the Chiefs have brought WR Jimmy Holiday back to the practice squad. Holiday flashed throughout training camp and the preseason, recording a 50-yard reception in the Week 3 preseason game against the Chicago Bears, also boasting a big special teams tackle in that game on kickoff coverage. He’s likely in line for scout team work with two wide receivers banged up due to concussions.
Chiefs’ updated 2025 practice squad
- OL Nick Broeker
- WR Jason Brownlee
- LB Cole Christiansen
- DE Ethan Downs
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- DE Malik Herring
- WR Jimmy Holiday
- OT Chu Godrick
- OT Matt Waletzko
- QB Chris Oladokun
- OL Nick Broeker
- S Tanner McCallister
- CB Melvin Smith
- DE Tyreke Smith
- FB Carson Steele
- DT Marlon Tuipulotu
- TE Tre Watson
Kansas City Chiefs News
Chiefs VP of Sports Medicine and Performance Rick Burkholder is holding no illusions about Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury return timeline
The Kansas City Chiefs’ Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance gave a big update on Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury on Wednesday.
