Kansas City Chiefs Practice Squad Tracker 2026: Live updates as Brett Veach builds 17-man group to supplement the 53-man roster
The Kansas City Chiefs have officially begun building their 17-man practice squad for the 2026 NFL season.
The Kansas City Chiefs have trimmed their 2026 roster to the mandated 53-player limit. Now, it’s time for them to assemble their practice squad to supplement their roster for the upcoming season.
Practice squad players don’t just serve as key reserves for a team’s 53-man roster; they also play a vital role on the scout team in helping prepare players for upcoming matchups every week. NFL practice squads can include up to 16 players, with an exempt spot reserved for an international player through the league’s International Player Pathway Program (IPP). The Chiefs have carried Chu Godrick as their international player for the past few years, but the Miami Dolphins claimed him during cuts this year.
Kansas City can officially begin assembling its practice squad at Noon CT on Monday, Aug. 31, after the NFL’s waiver claim period has ended. The Chiefs will bring back numerous players they’ve cut, but they could also add a couple of new faces to the practice squad. Here is a reminder of the rules regarding the types of players who can be added to the practice squad:
- Players who do not have an accrued season (I.E. rookies).
- Players who were on the active roster for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s).
- Up to four players per team with no more than two accrued seasons.
- Up to six players per team with no accrued season limitations (I.E. vested veterans).
- One player from the IPP program in an exempt spot.
Note: The first two types of players above cannot exceed a total of 10 of those types.
Below you’ll find an up-to-date list of the Chiefs’ reported practice squad additions.
Chiefs’ 2026 Practice Squad signings: 16
- CB D’Arco Perkins-McCallister (via Aaron Wilson): Perkins-McCallister returns after a strong preseason.
- FB Ben VanSumeren (via Jordan Schultz): Andy Reid loves his fullbacks, and now he gets the former Eagles and Bills fullback on the practice squad. This one is very intriguing.
- DE Emmanuel Ogbah (via Jordan Schultz): Ogbah felt like he had unfinished business in Kansas City. We’ll see if he can get back into football shape and contribute at all for the Chiefs.
- WR Andrew Armstrong (via Chiefs): The big name that Chiefs fans wanted to see. Armstrong makes it through waivers and onto the practice squad for Kansas City.
- LB Cole Christiansen (via Chiefs): Key special teams and defensive depth for Kansas City. Christiansen is back on the practice squad for a third consecutive season
- WR Omari Evans (via Chiefs): Evans didn’t see much action during the preseason, but he’ll get a chance to develop further on the practice squad.
- DT Cole Brevard (via Chiefs): Will Brevard stick on the practice squad after the team released Marcus Harris? We’ll find out tomorrow.
- S Tanner McCallister (via Chiefs): A reserve/future signing this offseason, McCallister gets more time to develop in Kansas City.
- C Pete Nygra (via Chiefs): The player who played the most snaps this preseason, the Chiefs like what they see in Nygra and will continue to develop him on the practice squad.
- LB Cam Jones (via Chiefs): Jones just re-joined the team a few weeks ago. He’s a serviceable linebacker and special teams depth.
- RB Jaydn Ott (via Chiefs): Ott returns to Kansas City. It felt like the team intentionally kept his snaps low during the final two preseason games in order to sneak him onto the practice squad.
- S DeShon Singleton (via Chiefs): After a few good plays in camp and the preseason, Singleton gets more time to develop.
- DE Tyreke Smith (via Chiefs): Smith had a standout camp and preseason with the Chiefs. He returns to the practice squad after spending 2025 on it.
- RB Nate Carter (via Matt Derrick): A player who comes from Kenneth Walker’s alma mater and was on the 53-man roster for the Falcons last season.
- OT Ethan Driskell (via Matt Derrick): The Chiefs didn’t get Esa Pole back, but they’ll continue to develop third-year OT Ethan Driskell.
- CB Kader Kohou (via Chiefs): Kohou is still working his way back from his 2025 knee injury. This could be a sneaky-good move for depth late in the year.
