The Chargers’ roster math is getting tight, and Kyle Kennard is one of the names sitting right on the edge.
A year after Los Angeles spent a fourth-round pick on the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Kennard suddenly looks like the kind of player who could be squeezed out when active rosters are set on August 30. That’s a sharp turn for a player the Chargers once viewed as a useful young addition to Jim Harbaugh’s pass-rushing group.
For Kansas City, that makes the situation worth tracking. The Chiefs have their own problems up front, and they don’t have much margin for error if the pass rush takes another hit.
Ashton Gillotte’s recent ruptured plantar fascia only added to the concern. Andy Reid said the recovery window could be as short as three weeks, which leaves Week 1 in play, but the reaction around the injury made one thing clear: the Chiefs can’t afford many more setbacks. Behind George Karlaftis, the picture gets thin fast.
R Mason Thomas is a rookie who has not played an NFL snap yet. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick in 2023, did not play at all in 2025 because of injury and still hasn’t delivered on that draft slot.
Emmanuel Ogbah is in the mix after signing with Kansas City, but he was added before Gillotte got hurt, and he’s coming off a rough year in Jacksonville, where he managed just a single half-sack. He’ll also turn 33 during the regular season.
That’s why a player like Kennard becomes interesting if he actually hits the market.
Kennard’s resume still carries weight. He won the Bronco Nagurski Trophy last year as the nation’s best defensive player, and the Chargers used him as a rotational pass rusher after projecting him more as a one-dimensional edge option.
But the rookie season never really took off. He logged only 80 snaps and spent plenty of Sundays as a healthy scratch.
The problem for Los Angeles is numbers, not just performance. Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu are locked in on the edges.
Ahkeem Mesidor was a first-round pick. Bud Dupree is still there.
And then there’s Nadame Tucker, the undrafted free agent who led the FBS in sacks a year ago at Western Michigan and has generated enough buzz in camp to look like a strong bet for the 53-man roster.
That leaves Kennard in a tough spot.
Kansas City, meanwhile, doesn’t have that kind of depth behind its top options. Tyreke Smith, Ethan Hurkett and VJ Anthony haven’t created much excitement, and if Gillotte ends up on injured reserve or any other injury pops up, the Chiefs may be pushed into the market.
So Kennard is a name to keep in mind as the roster cuts roll in. If the Chargers move on, plenty of teams will be watching the waiver wire - and Brett Veach could be one of the general managers ready to make a claim.
In Other News...
Kareem Hunt Could Become A Familiar Chiefs Problem In The AFC West
Kareem Hunts return to Kansas City in 2024 gave the Chiefs a familiar presence in the backfield and produced his best rushing totals since 2020, a reminder that he could still be useful in the right role. Even so, Kansas City chose not to bring him back for the 2025 season, leaving the veteran running back on the open market after a stretch in which his touches had steadily been trimmed.
Now there is at least a possibility that Hunt could end up in the AFC West again, this time with the Raiders, who could use a seasoned runner to complement rookie Ashton Jeanty. For Chiefs fans, the idea of Hunt staying in the division is the kind of subplot that always gets attention, especially when it involves a player who already knows Kansas Citys system and could wind up in a spot where he might matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Roster Battle Could End Quickly For 3 Bubble Players
The Chiefs are moving toward the first big roster cutdown, and for a handful of players, the pressure is already building. After the preseason opener, Jason Brownlee, EJ Smith and Mason Pline have all been on the fringe in terms of playing time, a sign that each one still has work to do before Kansas City trims its offseason group from 90 players to 53.
The next preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now looms as a key chance to change that outlook. Brownlee, Smith and Pline are all in the same uneasy spot: limited snaps so far, uncertain roster odds and one more opportunity to make their case before the Chiefs have to start making hard decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Bring Back A Familiar Name As Camp Concerns Grow
With training camp exposing some early depth questions, the Chiefs added two familiar faces to the mix by signing offensive lineman Kellen Diesch and linebacker Cam Jones. The moves come as Kansas City looks to shore up both the offensive line and special teams, areas that can quickly become problematic once the pads start coming on and roster battles intensify.
Jones brings a bit of team familiarity back into the building, having previously spent time with the Chiefs as well as the Jets and Giants, and his special teams background gives him a clear path to factor into the competition. To make room, Kansas City waived defensive end Anthony Dunn and offensive lineman Matt Waletzdo, a reminder that these camp transactions are as much about sorting out depth as they are about finding the right fit. [Read more 🡒]