The Chiefs kept four tight ends on their initial 53-man roster, but Irv Smith Jr. wasn’t one of them.
Smith was released as the Chiefs made a veritable flurry of roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. They also traded for former Cowboy, Peyton Hendershot, who now joins the indomitable Travis Kelce, the versatile Noah Gray, and the up-and-coming Jared Wiley in the tight end group.
A Shocking Turn of Events
Smith, the 2019 second-round pick by the Vikings, had signed with the Chiefs this offseason with high hopes of making an impact. But as fate would have it, there were other plans. Look at the sun rising and setting quicker than expected, as Smith found himself on the list of those released.
International Ambitions Dashed
Former rugby dynamo Louis Rees-Zammit also failed to make the cut. For him, the football dream is like chasing the wind. However, if he clears waivers, there’s a silver lining: he will have a roster exemption on the practice squad as an international player if the Chiefs decide to bring him back.
Nikko Remigio and His Fight for a Spot
Wide receiver Nikko Remigio, who had the special teams coordinator Dave Toub rooting for him, was waived alongside Rees-Zammit. Imagine the drama in that war room – Toub pounding the table with all his might!
The Mass Exodus
In a move that can only be described as a whirlwind of changes, the Chiefs also waived or released a slew of players:
- Running back Emani Bailey
- Linebacker Swayze Bozeman
- Tight end Baylor Cupp
- Defensive tackle Neil Farrell
- Tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick
- Cornerback Kamal Hadden
- Running back Keaontay Ingram
- Linebacker Curtis Jacobs
- Defensive end Truman Jones
- Defensive tackle Fabien Lovett
- Cornerback D.J. Miller
- Tackle Lucan Niang
- Quarterback Chris Oladokun
- Wide receiver Cornell Powell
- Running back Deneric Prince
- Wide receiver Justyn Ross
- Cornerback Keith Taylor
- Wide receiver Kadarius Toney
- Wide receiver Montrell Washington
- Safety Deon Bush
- Linebacker Cole Christiansen
- Defensive tackle Matt Dickerson
- Defensive back Tyrie Gillespie
These names represent dreams on hold, ambitions deferred, and, as the grinding NFL machine moves forward, the harrowing reality that securing a spot on an NFL roster is like trying to grip sand – slippery and unforgiving.
Looking Ahead
With Travis Kelce leading the tight end room and the intriguing new addition in Peyton Hendershot, the Chiefs are gearing up for what promises to be an unforgettable season. And to every player who barely missed the roster, their journey isn’t over—it’s merely taken a new path. Call it a camino sinuoso, a twisty road, where perseverance is the name of the game. Each release, every waiver, is met with the hope that tomorrow brings new opportunities. The Chiefs, in this aggressive reshuffle, are molding a team that is ready to chase glory once more.
In the end, the NFL is not just a game, it’s a saga—a ballet of power and strategy, where every move counts and every player dreams.
