Nazeeh Johnson’s football future is back on the table.
The former Chiefs defensive back has been cleared after surgery for an ankle injury earlier this summer, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That gives Johnson a fresh opening after a stretch that knocked him off course in a hurry.
Johnson had found work with the Tennessee Titans this offseason, but his time there ended in late August after the ankle issue and a six-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Johnson said the positive test stemmed from confusion over a fertility medication he was taking while he and his wife were trying to conceive.
“My wife and I were trying to conceive a child,” Johnson said in a statement. “We found out that I was infertile, and I took a fertility medication that was helping me try to conceive a baby. I was not aware that there was a substance in the medication that was on the banned list, and I tested positive for a PED."
Now healthy again, Johnson is back in the mix as a possible depth option for teams dealing with injuries. A return to Tennessee looks unlikely after that release, even though the Titans had already been involved with him this year. He also drew free-agent visits earlier in the spring from the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Chicago Bears.
Kansas City is another possible landing spot, though not an obvious one. The Chiefs have overhauled the secondary, and general manager Brett Veach has added enough young talent that the room already looks crowded. Johnson’s ability to move around the defense could still help him, but with players like Jadon Canady already struggling to get on the field, the path in Kansas City appears thin.
Still, the NFL has a way of changing fast. The Chiefs recently saw Mansoor Delane miss Week 8 and L'Jarius Sneed go on injured reserve within a couple of days, which is the kind of turn that can reopen doors in a hurry. Johnson may need to stay ready for any opportunity, even if it starts on a practice squad, as he tries to keep his career going in 2026.
Johnson spent four seasons with the Chiefs from 2022-25, appearing in 29 games and making 6 starts.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Bigger AFC Question Than Fans Expected
The Chiefs early cushion has disappeared in a hurry. After opening 5-0, Kansas City has now dropped two straight, including a recent loss to the Broncos, and the sudden skid has turned a comfortable-looking start into a more complicated picture for a team that still entered the week with championship expectations.
Even with the losses, the market is not treating the Chiefs like a team in crisis. DraftKings still has Kansas City among the AFCs top contenders, but the path back to the conferences top spot looks less straightforward now, with Buffalo and Jacksonville sitting ahead in the odds and Denver holding the AFC West lead. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Catch A Timely Break As Cardinals Backfield Thins Out
The Cardinals backfield is suddenly a lot thinner at a bad time, with Arizona trying to piece together its rushing plan as it gets ready to face the Chiefs. Jeremiyah Loves injury leaves the offense without one of its key options, and the ripple effect is obvious for a unit that was already dealing with some uncertainty at the position.
Tyler Allgeier is now in line to carry a heavier load, with James Conner and Bam Knight also dealing with injuries. For Kansas City, it is a timely development that could shape how Arizona approaches the game, especially if the Cardinals are forced to lean more heavily on a patchwork rotation than they expected. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Trade Deadline Pressure Is Building Around Brett Veach
The Chiefs looked like they were cruising through the first month of the season at 5-0, but the last two losses have changed the tone around the roster and turned the trade deadline into a bigger talking point. With Brett Veach holding multiple draft picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, Kansas City has the kind of flexibility that can make it aggressive if it decides the current group needs a boost.
A receiver upgrade is the most obvious place for the front office to look, especially with the market offering a mix of younger playmakers and proven veterans. There are also offensive tackle possibilities in the conversation, which gives the Chiefs a few different ways to attack the deadline, but the next move will say plenty about how much urgency Veach feels to keep this team on track. [Read more 🡒]