The Chiefs are starting Week 7 with a bit more linebacker optimism than they’ve had in over a month.
Kansas City has opened the 21-day practice window for Cooper McDonald, giving the young linebacker a chance to work his way back after spending more than a month on injured reserve. McDonald has been sidelined since September 16, when a knee injury knocked him out of the Chiefs’ season-opening win over the Denver Broncos.
A return has been on the table for a while, even after the four-week mark that included the bye in Week 5, but McDonald clearly needed more time. Now a midseason comeback is at least in sight.
The move does not guarantee he’ll be active anytime soon. Under the rules of the 21-day window, McDonald can practice for up to three weeks before the Chiefs must either activate him or leave him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Still, opening that window is a strong sign the team expects to get him back, and that matters for a defense that could use depth at linebacker.
That said, Kansas City has handled the position without major trouble in his absence. In Week 6, the Chiefs held the L.A. Chargers to season lows in points with 6 and rushing yards with 73, while also forcing two turnovers in a 22-6 win.
Even so, linebacker remains one of the thinner spots on the roster, and McDonald is a player the Chiefs have been eager to develop. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2025, made the active roster all season, and contributed on special teams while learning the defense. The team kept him on the roster instead of risking him on the practice squad, and he arrived at training camp in ’26 positioned for a bigger role with Jeffrey Bassa after Leo Chenal’s departure.
So far, though, Bassa has mostly been on the sidelines, while Jack Cochrane has picked up the extra linebacker reps alongside Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill in the base defense. With the Chiefs leaning heavily on nickel and dime looks, there aren’t many snaps to go around, but McDonald could still give the rotation a useful lift if he gets healthy and is ready to contribute.
In Other News...
Chiefs Mourn The Loss Of A Respected Former Defensive End
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His death was discovered by his wife at their Florida home, and no cause has been announced. For a player remembered as much for his steady professional approach as for his off-field impact, the news lands as a sharp and sudden loss for the Chiefs community. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reid Gives Chiefs Fans Real Hope Heading Into Seattle
Sunday night brings another test against the leagues measuring stick, and Andy Reid has given Kansas City plenty of reason to feel comfortable in that spot. Since taking over the Chiefs in 2013, Reid has repeatedly had his team ready for games against the defending Super Bowl champions, and that track record has become one of those quiet little edges that can matter in a big primetime setting.
Reid has been at this long enough to make the matchup feel familiar rather than overwhelming, which is part of why the Chiefs can head into Seattle with some optimism. His overall history against reigning champions stretches back to the start of his head coaching career in 1999, and while the Seahawks bring the usual challenge that comes with being the team to beat, Kansas City has every reason to trust the sideline advantage it carries into the game. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Receiver Search Just Opened Another Interesting Possibility
The Chiefs search for more help at receiver has taken on another layer, with reports suggesting Tyreek Hill could be a possible reunion if his NFL future becomes clearer. Kansas City has been looking for ways to add more playmakers to the passing game, and the idea of revisiting a familiar star only adds to the intrigue around a position group that still needs a lift.
Chris Godwin has also surfaced as a name in the mix, giving the Chiefs another veteran option to consider as they sort through their receiver plan. Godwin has put together a decent season with the Buccaneers, but injuries and a dip in production have complicated his case, and the bigger question for Kansas City is whether one move at wideout would be enough to really change the outlook. [Read more 🡒]