With the season opener at home against the Denver Broncos just over a week away, the Chiefs brought a sizable group of free agents into Arrowhead Stadium on Friday for a tryout that leaned heavily toward special teams help and depth options on both sides of the ball.
Kansas City evaluated 10 players in all, with seven coming on offense and a clear focus on tight ends and receivers who can contribute in the return game. That special teams value was the common thread running through the workout.
Among the more familiar names was Xavier Gipson, a receiver who has appeared in 41 games since 2023, mostly with the Jets. He also had stops with the Giants and Eagles, and was recently released by New York after a second stint.
Cam Ross was also part of the group, a receiver whose summer was spent with the Broncos. He has posted 44 catches for 512 yards in each of the last three seasons while moving from UConn to James Madison to Virginia, and he has a return touchdown in each of the last two seasons.
The tight end group was especially crowded. Rivaldo Fairweather, a 6-4, 252-pound target who was waived by the Cardinals before roster cuts, also had a preseason run with the Cowboys after finishing at Auburn and caught 13 passes for 128 yards this preseason.
Cody Hardy, a 6-5, 270-plus pound blocker from N.C. State, signed with the Saints after the draft but never made the active roster.
Tre' McKitty, a former third-round pick of the Chargers in 2021, has bounced around since managing 16 career catches for 117 yards in three seasons in Southern California; he spent the spring in the UFL before the Commanders brought him in for the preseason. Tyler Moore, a rookie free agent from Iowa State, has already made stops with the Colts, Giants, and Panthers and also tried out for the Seahawks.
Thomas Odukoya, an International Pathways Player from Amsterdam, joined the Titans in 2022, played two games in 2024, and spent part of last season on the Patriots' practice squad before another tryout with Mike Vrabel this summer came up empty.
Kansas City also looked at defensive help. Jay Toia, a big nose tackle who started for several years at UCLA before the Cowboys picked him in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, played in five games before being cut this preseason.
The Chiefs recently moved Cole Brevard out and brought Marcus Harris in, but Toia could still be a name to keep close if depth becomes an issue. Larry Worth III, who has played linebacker and safety, also got a look after signing with the 49ers as an undrafted player.
His versatility and tackling ability make him a natural special teams candidate.
At linebacker, Taurean York stood out as one of the more intriguing names in the workout. He went undrafted despite a strong career at Texas A&M, and while athletic limitations are part of the evaluation, his leadership, strength, and instincts give him a real case. The Chiefs, according to the report, would do well to find a way to sign him to the practice squad.
In Other News...
Chiefs Quietly Closed The Door On A Familiar Quarterback Option
The Chiefs have moved on from a familiar face in the quarterback room, waiving Chris Oladokun with an injury designation as the roster churn continued this week. If he goes unclaimed, he will land on injured reserve, ending a stint that once seemed to give him a foothold in Kansas City after he started the teams final two games last season when injuries thinned the depth chart.
This year told a different story. Kansas City reshaped the quarterback room by bringing in Justin Fields and drafting Garrett Nussmeier, and Oladokun never fully reestablished himself amid a preseason that did not help his case and a concussion protocol issue that factored into the decision. Nussmeier has already taken over Oladokuns jersey number, a small but telling sign that the Chiefs had quietly closed the door on a once-familiar option. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Undrafted Rookie Forced His Way Into A Real Roster Battle
Xavier Nwankpa arrived in Kansas City as an undrafted rookie facing the usual uphill climb, but the safety turned the summer into a real conversation. After offseason evaluations and a strong preseason, he carved out a place on the Chiefs 53-man roster as the fourth safety, the kind of spot that usually goes to a player who proves he can handle more than just a camp body role.
Nwankpas biggest opening came when he was unexpectedly asked to start in the second preseason game after an injury to Alohi Gilman, and he handled the moment well enough to keep building momentum. For a player in his position, special teams often end up being the deciding factor, and Nwankpa made clear that understanding was part of how he stayed in the mix as Kansas City sorted out the back end of its defense. [Read more 🡒]
Patrick Mahomes Family Video Arrived As One Chiefs Question Lingers
Patrick Mahomes and his family were back in the public eye this week as behind-the-scenes footage from a commercial shoot with CommunityAmerica Credit Union made the rounds. The clip offered a lighter look at the Chiefs star away from the field, where his name has remained central to just about every conversation surrounding Kansas City heading into the new season.
Travis Kelce added another layer to that discussion on the New Heights podcast, saying Mahomes determination to return from injury helped shape his own decision to keep playing. Even with that kind of confidence around the locker room, one obvious question still hangs over the Chiefs as they approach the opener against the Denver Broncos: Mahomes is expected to suit up, but nothing has been confirmed yet. [Read more 🡒]