The Kansas City Chiefs have released tight end John Phillips after spending just over a week on the team according to the NFL’s transaction report.
This move came in addition to the Chiefs’ decision to waive QB T.J. Linta. Phillips was signed to the Chiefs on May 20, but according to the Kansas City Star’s Brooke Pryor, he wasn’t present during the Chiefs’ first group of OTA practices. Those practices ran from May 22-24.
My initial reaction would be to call this a failure to report situation, but he was not waived with any such designation. His status as a vested veteran means that he doesn’t need to pass through waivers and is free to sign with any team.
The former Cardinals tight end figured to be veteran depth at a position of need for the Chiefs. They’d been looking for some veteran tight end depth to compete with some of their younger players while Travis Kelce recovers from ankle surgery.
Now it appears the Chiefs will go back to the drawing board at the tight end position. They currently have two roster vacancies on the 90-man offseason roster due to the departures of Linta and Phillips. Expect them to fill those vacancies in the coming days as the second group of OTA practices continues.
