Chiefs make their first practice squad elevation of the 2024 NFL season ahead of Week 8 vs. Raiders
The Kansas City Chiefs have elevated their first practice squad player of the 2024 NFL season, ahead of the Week 8 AFC West showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs have signed practice squad players to their 53-man roster at times this year, but this is the first standard elevation for Kansas City. With the […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have elevated their first practice squad player of the 2024 NFL season, ahead of the Week 8 AFC West showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chiefs have signed practice squad players to their 53-man roster at times this year, but this is the first standard elevation for Kansas City. With the Chiefs' injury situation at wide receiver as dire as it is, there was an expectation they'd elevate a wide receiver from the practice squad. They did that, but it might not be the player most expected.
The team announced on X (formerly Twitter) that they had elevated WR Montrell Washington from the practice squad for Sunday's game.
A former fifth-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos in 2022, Washington has experience playing both kick and punt returner. In 2022, he had 32 punt returns for 271 yards and 18 kick returns for 340 yards. He appeared in six games with the Chiefs last season, working exclusively on special teams with eight punt returns for 61 yards and one kick return for 20 yards.
Washington made a strong case for the 53-man roster in training camp and the preseason this year, but with the logjam at wide receiver, he landed on the practice squad.
Why Montrell Washington and not Nikko Remigio, Justyn Ross, or Cornell Powell?
Most Chiefs fans seemed to expect Justyn Ross or Nikko Remigio to get called up this week. What does Washington have that those other receivers don't? It's a combination of his special teams prowess, speed, and the trust they have in his ability to fill in on offense.
Mecole Hardman will surely be pulled off of return specialist duties and focus on offense more. Washington is the only player who excels at both on the practice squad. Yes, Remigio can play both spots, but he couldn't crack the first- or second-team offense all training camp and preseason. He needs to build more trust there.
Washington had this standout 50-yard reception in the preseason, which is the type of play that could come in handy if the Chiefs suffered another in-game injury. His speed is something that could be beneficial in designed plays as well.
Let's not forget that Washington played for Denver during his rookie year and has some familiarity with the Raiders because of it.
Chiefs rule out two players in final injury report ahead of Week 8 AFC West showdown with Raiders
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