Omarr Norman-Lott is back in the picture for the Chiefs.
After missing time with an ACL injury, the Kansas City rookie has returned to practice, a key first step toward being activated again. Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star first reported the move. That opens a 21-day window for the Chiefs to evaluate where he is in his recovery before deciding whether to move him to the active roster or leave him on the PUP list for the rest of the season.
It’s a notable checkpoint for a player who has been easy to forget since he last appeared in an NFL game in October of 2025. Norman-Lott was a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a selection that drew plenty of raised eyebrows at the time because many believed he could have lasted until Day 3. Brett Veach clearly thought otherwise and made sure the Chiefs got him.
Before Kansas City took him, draft analysts saw a player with real pass-rush traits but plenty of questions attached.
Norman-Lott spent three seasons at Arizona State before transferring to Tennessee for his final two years. His production took off with the Volunteers, where he posted 5.5 sacks in 2023 and 4.0 in 2024, after recording four total sacks during his Arizona State stint.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com projected him as a third- or fourth-round pick and described him this way: "Norman-Lott is an energetic pass rusher with a high pressure rate. He plays with harmonious hands and feet that work to and around edges, but he won’t offer much as a power rusher. His lack of size could hurt his draft slotting, but he has the potential to become a rotational defender and sub-package rusher."
Dane Brugler of The Athletic was in the same range, also calling him a third- or fourth-rounder and pointing to the uncertainty around how much he could handle. "There is no doubt about his NFL talent, but his ability to handle more of a full-time role is a tricky projection."
Bleacher Report’s scouting staff was even more critical, focusing on his age, injury history and limited college workload. "The former Volunteer is a project despite his age and time spent in college. That could cap his ceiling with some teams as he might be viewed as an interior pass-rush specialist at the next level."
Kansas City bet on the upside anyway. Norman-Lott’s rookie year didn’t give the Chiefs much to work with before the injury ended things. He played only 73 snaps, finished with five tackles and one QB hit, and was lost for the rest of the season.
Now the question is whether he can become more than a forgotten name on the roster. The Chiefs do have flexibility along the defensive line, which means there’s no need to hurry him back. He’s never been the kind of player expected to carry a full game load, and that’s unlikely to change as he returns from a major injury.
The pass rush has struggled this season, but Kansas City is hoping that rhythm eventually brings improvement there. Norman-Lott was drafted for his interior pass-rush ability, and the Chiefs will be looking for that to show up once Steve Spagnuolo finds the right role for him. The production was there in college, even if the snap count wasn’t, and the organization still has reason to believe there’s value in the pick.
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