Updated 53-man roster projections following conclusion of Chiefs training camp

The Kansas City Chiefs have already finished their 2019 training camp.

We’ve learned a lot about the 90-man roster, and while things are still in flux it’s a bit easier to predict where things are headed with roster cuts less than a month away. Here’s a look at what I think the 53-man roster, the practice squad and injured reserve will look like come September 1:

AP Photo/Colin E. Braley

Offense – 24 players

Pos.	First	Second	Third
QB	Patrick Mahomes	Chad Henne
RB	Damien Williams	Darrel Williams; Carlos Hyde	Darwin Thompson
FB	Anthony Sherman
WR	Tyreek Hill	Mecole Hardman	Cody Thompson
WR	Sammy Watkins	Demarcus Robinson	Marcus Kemp
TE	Travis Kelce	Blake Bell	Deon Yelder
LT	Eric Fisher
LG	Andrew Wylie	Cameron Erving
C	Austin Reiter	Nick Allegretti
RG	Laurent Duvernay-Tardif	Kahlil McKenzie
RT	Mitchell Schwartz

Observations:

• There are not a whole lot of changes on offense from my last projection.
• First up, John Lovett is injured, so I don’t have him making the 53-man roster anymore. I expect him to go to injured reserve.
• Because of the aforementioned, I think it opens the door for both Bell and Yelder to make the team. The return of three tight end sets can make this offense even more deadly.
• The last two receiver spots have changed so much since my first projection. I had Gehrig Dieter and Byron Pringle as five and six. Now I don’t think either of them makes the roster.
• In my most recent projection, I made the change from Dieter to Kemp. In this projection, I’m making the change from Pringle to Thompson. At the end of the day, I just feel like Thompson can do more than Pringle. Special teams and offensive versatility are going to help the Chiefs come to terms on a tough decision here.

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Defense – 26 players

Pos.	First	Second	Third
DT	Chris Jones	Justin Hamilton
DT	Derrick Nnadi	Khalen Saunders
SDE	Breeland Speaks	Emmanuel Ogbah
SLB	Damien Wilson	Ben Niemann
MLB	Reggie Ragland
WLB	Anthony Hitchens	Darron Lee	Dorian O’Daniel
WDE	Frank Clark	Alex Okafor	Tanoh Kpassagnon
LCB	Bashaud Breeland	Charvarius Ward	Rashad Fenton
RCB	Kendall Fuller	Mo Claiborne	Herb Miller
FS	Daniel Sorensen	Juan Thornhill	Armani Watts
SS	Tyrann Mathieu	Jordan Lucas

Observations:

• I’m leaning toward the Chiefs going with Justin Hamilton over Xavier Williams now. Back injuries can linger with the big guys, and Williams has been dealing with some back issues throughout training camp.
• O’Daniel is hanging onto his roster spot by a thread. The fact that Ragland can play SAM and Niemann can play MIKE help O’Daniel’s chances when it comes to making the team. His speed and special teams abilities are too good to give up on.
• It’s clear that Speaks and Kpassagnon will have key roles as reserve players on this defense. They’ve made an impact while Clark and Okafor have been absent during training camp.
• I went with six corners and five safeties. I think the Chiefs need to go heavy on the secondary with as many questions as they currently have.
• My surprise to make the team on defense is Miller. Coaches have liked this kid since he was a tryout at rookie minicamp. He’s an information sponge and he’s made some plays on defense already. He’ll need to continue show throughout the preseason, but I think he’ll be provided the opportunity.

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Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Special teams – 3 players

Pos.	First	Second
P	Dustin Colquitt	Harrison Butker
K	Harrison Butker	Dustin Colquitt
KO	Harrison Butker	Dustin Colquitt
LS	James Winchester	Travis Kelce
H	Dustin Colquitt	x
PR	Mecole Hardman	Tyreek Hill
KR	Mecole Hardman	Cody Thompson

Observations:

• I don’t see a way that Tremon Smith makes this team and I’m leaning toward Byron Pringle also not making it. That means the Chiefs will likely rely heavily on second-round pick Mecole Hardman for kick and punt returns.

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Practice squad – 10

Pos.	Name	School
LB	Raymond Davison	x
QB	Chase Litton	x
TE	Nick Keizer	x
WR	Rashard Davis	x
CB	Dakari Monroe	San Jose State
C	Jimmy Murray	x
DT	Joey Ivie	x
OT	Dino Boyd	Cincinnati
DB	Andrew Soroh	Florida Atlanic
DE	Rob McCray	x

Injured reserve – 4

Pos.	Name	School
DE	Tim Ward	Old Dominion
LB	Darius Harris	Mid Tennessee
WR	Gehrig Dieter	x
TE	John Lovett	Princeton

Observations:

• I still feel like a lot of the veteran players are going to be useful for the Chiefs, in the event they have to elevate someone from the practice squad. So I went with seven that have already spent a season on an NFL practice squad.
• Monroe and Soroh have shown enough so far to make me comfortable with those two for developmental pieces in the secondary.
• I’d prefer Boyd to be stashed on the active roster, but if they can somehow sneak him through waivers, he definitely looks like a top tier developmental tackle.
• The injured reserve list has obviously expanded. These include injured players from training camp

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