Chiefs promote preseason standout OT Esa Pole from practice squad, sign former Cowboys draft pick in his place
The Chiefs have shuffled their offensive line with 53-man roster and practice squad roster moves in the wake of Josh Simmons’ injury.
The Kansas City Chiefs are shuffling offensive linemen on and off the 53-man roster and practice squad amidst their current injury situation.
With the Chiefs sending their first-round draft pick, LT Josh Simmons, to injured reserve for at least the next four games of the 2025 NFL season, they had an open spot on the 53-man roster. That spot is going to a standout rookie, who was just elevated from the practice squad for the team’s Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
“Esa Pole, by the way, will take that spot,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said on Wednesday. “He’ll be the one.”
Pole, of course, was waived during 53-man roster cuts. He was claimed by the New York Jets, but found his way back to the Chiefs’ practice squad in late October. Pole’s performance during the preseason was on par with that of Simmons, allowing no pressures on 46 offensive snaps played mainly at the left tackle position. Not only do the Chiefs believe in Pole’s talent, but Coach Reid seemed to indicate that they’ve even seen some growth in the month since his return to the club.
“Yeah, we thought we saw some talent there,” Reid told reporters. “And he knows the scheme, obviously, and we thought there was some growth. He could be a guy that works in somewhere.”
For now, it appears that Pole will be relied upon as a swing tackle. But that could obviously change as things move forward.
Chiefs sign former Cowboys OT Matt Waletzko to practice squad after successful tryout
The Chiefs will fill OT Esa Pole’s spot on the practice squad with free agent OT Matt Waletzko, according to multiple reports. The 6-foot-8 and 305-pound offensive lineman was among the five offensive tackles (and eight players total) who were hosted by Kansas City for tryouts on Monday.
Waletzko’s time with the Cowboys, who selected him out of North Dakota in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, was stunted by injuries. He suffered a left shoulder injury twice in his first two seasons with the team, which lessened his ability to compete for the swing tackle job in Dallas. In 2024, he served as a backup offensive tackle but was ultimately inactive for the majority of the team’s games. Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, he was waived with an injury designation in early August. He spent about a month on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad in the early goings of the season, but he still appears to be looking for his NFL home, so to speak.
If he can manage to stay healthy, he has the potential to develop into a nice depth piece for Kansas City at just 25 years old.
Chiefs’ updated 2025 NFL practice squad
- WR Jason Brownlee
- LB Cole Christiansen
- DE Ethan Downs
- S Mike Edwards
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- DE Malik Herring
- RB Dameon Pierce
- OT Chu Godrick
- OL C.J. Hanson
- QB Chris Oladokun
- DT Zacch Pickens
- CB Melvin Smith
- DE Tyreke Smith
- FB Carson Steele
- DT Marlon Tuipulotu
- TE Tre Watson
- OT Matt Waletzko
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