The Chiefs are unbeaten five weeks into the season, but that hasn’t changed the reality inside the building: depth is going to matter, and it may matter soon. Kansas City is coming out of its bye in Week 6 with bigger goals in view, and with injuries stacking up, the front office has some familiar names it could circle back to if it needs reinforcements.
Brett Veach has usually preferred other paths when the roster needs help midseason. He’s leaned more toward practice squad elevations or trades before the deadline than veteran signings. But the Chiefs have also shown a tendency to stay connected to former players, and that opens the door for a reunion or two.
Tyreek Hill is the biggest name on the list. One day, he’ll have his place in the rafters at the Chiefs’ new stadium, but for now he’s coming off one of the worst knee injuries the NFL has seen, along with off-the-field legal concerns that have followed him throughout his career. If those issues are sorted out, the source material sees him as a logical fit who could matter late in the year.
Mecole Hardman is another former Chief who could make sense. His time in Kansas City has been uneven, but he also has a knack for being around the right moments.
He was the hero of Super Bowl LVIII against the 49ers, and the source points to “Tom and Jerry Right” as the defining moment of the season and Hardman’s Chiefs career. He was with Kansas City for all three of its Super Bowl wins, and his return would bring value as both a contributor and an All-Pro return specialist.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is in a similar bucket as a proven, if not perfect, option. The source describes him as “The Chiefs’ Tyquan Thornton before Tyquan Thornton,” noting that he was arguably Kansas City’s most impactful receiver from 2022-2023.
Big and fast, he was a real deep threat in Kansas City before moving on to six different teams in the three years since. Even if he isn’t the same player now, he could still help with receiver depth, especially with Tyquan Thornton likely out for the year.
The defensive line could also be a place where Kansas City looks back to a familiar face. Khalen Saunders, a former fan favorite, left for the Saints in 2023 and has bounced around since.
He was a hyper-athletic defensive tackle who brought run-stopping ability and some pass-rush upside in his final season with the Chiefs. With Omarr Norman-Lott still out, another injury up front would be a problem, and Saunders would at least give the Chiefs a name they already know.
Safety is another spot where experience could be valuable, and Mike Edwards fits that idea. The room has youth, even after Kansas City’s heavy investment in Alohi Gilman and the hope surrounding Jaden Hicks. Edwards could bring veteran stability, even if it’s only on the practice squad, and help on game days if needed.
Deon Bush belongs in that same conversation. He was a useful depth piece and special teams player for the Chiefs in the early 2020s, and Kansas City’s safety room is thin enough that he could become relevant if injuries start to bite. Bush tore his Achilles in a preseason game last season, but if he’s fully recovered, he could get back up to speed and become a late-season option.
Nazeeh Johnson is another former Chief who could be part of the answer, especially on special teams. He was a seventh-round pick by Kansas City and contributed as a key special teams player during his time there.
Special teams has been an issue in Kansas City, and Johnson could help there, though injuries at corner might make the Chiefs prefer someone they know on defense. Still, he could be a worthwhile practice squad add for late-season depth.
Wanya Morris rounds out the list. He was a top-100 pick for the Chiefs in 2023 and worked in a rotational role at tackle before being traded to Atlanta this offseason.
He didn’t make the Falcons’ roster and is now on the Cowboys’ practice squad. If the Chiefs need emergency help at tackle, Morris could be a useful pickup who can play either side of the line.
In Other News...
Tyreek Hill Reunion Talk Just Ran Into One Massive Obstacle
Tyreek Hills future had already been a topic worth tracking for Kansas City fans, but the latest legal ruling adds another layer of uncertainty around any possible reunion. In a civil trial brought by his estranged wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro, Hill was found liable for two counts of battery while being found not liable on eight other claims, leaving his off-field situation under a brighter spotlight as the NFLs investigation into his conduct continues.
Even with the legal process moving forward, Hills camp has tried to keep the football side open-ended. His agent has described the situation as fluid and said a deal could come at any time, even raising the possibility of a midseason fit with a contender in need of receiver help, but this ruling makes any comeback conversation more complicated than it was a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Stars Are Battling Another Frustrating Wave Of False Rumors
Travis Kelce spent part of the week swatting down another piece of online fiction, this time a false AI-generated story that claimed he had bought a $3.3 million Kansas City home to help homeless youth. The Chiefs star made clear the report was untrue and pointed people toward his actual community efforts through 87running.org, a reminder that even harmless-sounding internet chatter can quickly drift into made-up territory when it involves one of the NFLs biggest names.
Patrick Mahomes has dealt with a similar round of noise, with his mother Randi Mahomes stepping in to deny rumors that he owns a house at the Lake of the Ozarks. For a team that lives under a national spotlight, the latest wave of misinformation is another example of how quickly a rumor can take on a life of its own before anyone outside the family gets the facts straight. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Reunion Buzz With Tyreek Hill Comes With Two Big Concerns
The Tyreek Hill reunion talk around Kansas City has taken on a different tone in recent days, with the receivers football future now sitting alongside a serious off-field legal ruling and an uncertain health picture. Hill was found liable for two counts of battery in a civil case brought by his wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro, and the jury awarded $500,000 in compensatory damages but no punitive damages, adding another layer of scrutiny to any team considering him.
On the field, Hill remains a free agent while recovering from a severe knee injury, and agent Drew Rosenhaus has said a new deal could come together soon even as the situation stays fluid. The Chiefs are still viewed as a possible landing spot, but any path back to Kansas City would depend on how teams weigh the contract side against his recovery status, making this one of the more complicated star reunions on the board. [Read more 🡒]