The Kansas City Chiefs have protected four practice squad players ahead of their Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Kansas City protected DT Cortez Broughton, DE Shilique Calhoun, DE Austin Edwards and WR Daurice Fountain according to the NFL’s personnel notice for Tuesday. This is the second time the team has protected Fountain and Edwards, but the first time for Broughton and Calhoun.
With news of Chris Jones entering the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol, it makes sense for the team to elevate some defensive linemen for the game on Thursday. With his flexibility to play both inside and outside, it’s no shock that the team is considering adding both interior and exterior pass rushers.
One player who makes a ton of sense is Broughton, who is a former draft pick by Los Angeles. He was released by the Chargers during 53-man roster cuts back in September.
With Chris Jones heading to the Reserve/COVID-19 list, don't be shocked to see the #Chiefs call up practice squad DT Cortez Broughton as a COVID replacement. Broughton was a 2019 draft pick for the #Chargers. He was released by LA during 53-man roster cuts in September.
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) December 14, 2021
With Josh Gordon also on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team can elevate Daurice Fountain as a COVID replacement. This doesn’t count against the two standard elevations that he’s allotted before the team risks losing a player to waivers.
Fountain was elevated via standard elevation back in Week 11 against the Cowboys. He filled in on special teams for WR Marcus Kemp, who could be a bigger part of the offensive game plan this week with Gordon on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. That’d put Fountain in line to get more snaps on special teams again in Week 15.
While the moves to protect these practice squad players signals that the Chiefs are preparing to be without both Gordon and Jones, the team has yet to formally rule out both players.
