The Chiefs are back in the linebacker market after Cooper McDonald’s injury forced them to look for depth. On Thursday, Kansas City brought in four players for workouts as it tries to shore up the position for the next stretch.
McDonald was placed on injured reserve after exiting Week 1 against the Denver Broncos with a knee injury early in the first half. That move means he has to sit out at least four weeks, and the earliest he can come back is Week 6 against the L.A. Chargers at home.
Kansas City had been counting on McDonald and Jeffrey Bassa to help cover the snaps and production left behind when Leo Chenal signed with the Washington Commanders in free agency. McDonald, an undrafted free agent a year ago, impressed enough to make the active roster and remain there all season as a special teams contributor with a path to more playing time in ’26.
For now, though, the Chiefs are not planning to hand McDonald’s workload to a newcomer. Those snaps are expected to go to Jack Cochrane, a familiar special teams presence who can line up at any linebacker spot. Cochrane has been trusted by the coaching staff since joining the team in 2022, though he has also picked up too many special teams penalties along the way.
The four linebackers who worked out for Kansas City bring different paths to the NFL:
Dominic DeLuca has built his career by grinding for every opportunity. He went from walk-on to scholarship player at Penn State, where he served as a three-year captain and appeared in 57 games over five seasons. After the draft, he joined the Baltimore Ravens, spent time on the practice squad, and was recently cut again.
Marte Mapu is probably the name Chiefs fans know best. The Patriots took him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Sacramento State, envisioning him as a hybrid defender with experience both in the secondary and at linebacker.
He picked off Kansas City for his first NFL interception that same year and has played in 44 games over the last three seasons for New England before being released in April. He later signed with the Houston Texans for the summer, only to be released again.
Langston Patterson put together four seasons at Vanderbilt, finishing with 14.5 tackles for loss, and then got an extended look with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent over the spring and summer. He was released before roster cutdowns and has remained a free agent since.
T.J. Quinn just finished a five-year Louisville career that included a move from safety to linebacker.
He led the Cardinals in tackles in each of the last three seasons and was named third-team All-ACC last year after posting 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 8 tackles for loss. He originally signed with the Green Bay Packers as a rookie free agent.
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