The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing in another member of the national champion Indiana Hoosiers, this time on the defensive side of the ball. The newest addition joins OT Khalil Benson as an Indiana product on the Chiefs’ roster.

As 810 Sports Radio’s Jason Anderson first reported and NFL Insider Jordan Schultz confirmed, Kansas City is set to sign linebacker Aiden Fisher to the practice squad. Chiefs GM Brett Veach brought Fisher in for a workout before landing on the move. The Houston Texans selected Fisher with a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Houston released him on Oct. 17 to make room for Texans linebacker Henry To’oto’o on the 53-man roster. Fisher then cleared waivers and became an unrestricted free agent.

Why the Chiefs need linebacker depth right now

The timing makes sense for Kansas City. The Chiefs are dealing with linebacker injuries, starting with Cooper McDonald on injured reserve. Additionally, Cole Christensen has already used his three allotted practice squad elevations, so the team can’t keep leaning on him on game day.

Kansas City recently signed Cam Jones to the 53-man roster, but another move could be on the way. If that happens, having a player like Fisher available and ready on the practice squad becomes far more valuable.

Aiden Fisher’s college resume at Indiana

Fisher arrives with plenty of winning pedigree. He was a two-time first-team All-American and a defensive leader for the Hoosiers, helping lead Indiana to a College Football Playoff national championship.

He originally transferred to Indiana after playing two seasons at James Madison. Fisher started all 28 games he appeared in at Indiana and produced the following numbers:

• Total tackles: 215
• Tackles for loss: 16
• Sacks: Six
• Interceptions: Two
• Passes defended: Five

The knock on Fisher coming out of college was his size. Listed at 6-foot and 231 pounds, he was viewed as a bit undersized for the linebacker position, which likely explains why he lasted until the seventh round. Fisher appeared in three games with Houston this season, playing only on special teams. He logged 38 total snaps and recorded one solo tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals.

What Fisher brings to the Chiefs

Fisher has the potential to develop into a key special teams contributor and depth linebacker for the Chiefs. He’s an instinctive player who excels at rushing the passer, attacking downhill, and dropping into coverage in the passing game. I think he’ll likely find his home at the outside linebacker spot in Kansas City. Either way, there’s a whole lot to like about the 22-year-old joining the roster.

This is a dart throw on a practice squad player. Still, Fisher could become a long-term piece for the Chiefs. Drue Tranquill has only one year left on his contract, and the team doesn’t have many substantial long-term investments at linebacker. That leaves the door open for a young player to carve out a role over the next couple of seasons.

At the very least, Fisher will provide depth and a hungry player on the scout team as Kansas City continues through the 2026 NFL season. If linebacker injuries pile up, he might not have to wait long for his chance.