The Kansas City Chiefs will return another familiar face to the practice squad ahead of the divisional round of the playoffs.
According to Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick, the team intends to sign former Chiefs WR Marcus Kemp to the practice squad. Kemp originally signed as the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has bounced between the roster and practice squad ever since.
Kemp had recently signed to the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad after being released from the Chiefs’ 53-man roster. His contract with the Dolphins expired on Monday morning, making him an unrestricted free agent and free to return to Kansas City.
Former #Chiefs WR Marcus Kemp's practice squad contract with the #Dolphins expired this morning. If he doesn't sign a reserve/future deal with Miami, look for him to return to Kansas City now that unlimited practice squad elevations are a thing for the postseason.
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) January 11, 2021
Kemp had been added and waived from the Chiefs’ 53-man roster multiple times this season. He had also used up his two practice squad standard elevations, which in-part caused his decision to sign with the Dolphins instead of returning to the Chiefs’ practice squad.
The NFL has since altered the rules for practice squad elevations, allowing unlimited standard elevations throughout the course of the playoffs. That means that the Chiefs will have the ability to elevate Kemp— who is a stud special teams player— during the playoffs when he rejoins the team.
In order to make room for Kemp on the practice squad, expect the Chiefs to move CB DeAndre Baker to the practice squad injured list. He suffered a fractured femur in the Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Look for the transactions to re-sign Kemp to be made official in the coming days after he clears COVID-19 protocols.
