L'Jarius Sneed’s return to Kansas City has been easy to overlook in a Chiefs offseason that has been packed with movement in the secondary, but Friday’s preseason finale gave the veteran corner a meaningful step forward. Against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, Sneed got his first preseason reps and moved another notch closer to being ready for the regular season.
That matters for a cornerback room that has plenty of new faces and not a lot of proven mileage together. The Chiefs brought in names like Kader Kohou and Kaiir Elam, drafted Jadon Canady, and made a major splash by trading up to No. 6 overall for Mansoor Delane. With so much turnover, Sneed’s comeback can get lost in the noise.
It also didn’t help that he didn’t sign with Kansas City until early June, long after the biggest offseason chatter had passed. From there, he needed time to work his way into football shape during minicamp and training camp in St.
Joseph. And after appearing in just 12 games with limited impact over the past two seasons, he arrived back in Kansas City already somewhat removed from the spotlight.
After the game, Andy Reid sounded encouraged by what he saw.
"Wasn't that great to see him out there? I mean, he's battled through a couple of things injury-wise and I was proud of him.
He wanted to be out there. He got himself back into football shape over camp and then the last couple of weeks here.
Then he was able to get out there and perform and do a nice job. He was so excited to get out there again.
I think he physically feels good, and that was important to be able to get him to that spot."
Reid’s reaction fit the bigger picture around Sneed, who has dealt with quad and knee injuries over the last two seasons and has been limited to 662 snaps since 2023. His run in Tennessee never came close to matching what he had given the Chiefs, and the return on that move was rough for the Titans after they gave up a third-round pick in '24 and handed him a four-year deal that paid him more than $43 million before his release.
There was already some familiarity with the challenge on Kansas City’s side. Sneed’s knees were an issue even before he left, but the Chiefs’ training staff had a routine in place that kept him available on game days. That same staff is now working to get him ready again, and that could be central to helping him rediscover some version of the lockdown corner he was before the move to Nashville.
The Seahawks game also hinted at another wrinkle: Sneed worked at nickel corner. That could mean the Chiefs are looking at a different role for him, especially with age and injuries potentially making him less suited to the outside. Kansas City also has several boundary options in Nohl Williams, Mansoor Delane, and Kristian Fulton.
However the Chiefs choose to use him, the important part is that Sneed got on the field before the preseason ended. His exact role and workload still aren’t clear, but his signing already stands as a significant part of an offseason spent reshaping the secondary. His experience and leadership will matter, and so could whatever he still has left as a player.
In Other News...
Chiefs Practice Squad Battle Could Get Interesting Behind The 53
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There is also some built-in flexibility in how the Chiefs can fill those spots, including room for six veterans and an extra opening through the International Player Pathway exemption. For a team that has made a habit of finding useful depth in unexpected places, the battle for those final practice squad jobs could end up being more interesting than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]
Former Chiefs Suddenly Face A Harsh Reality After Roster Cuts
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Some of those players could still surface again in one form or another, whether on a practice squad or with another opportunity elsewhere, but the immediate picture is far less certain. The most notable part of this round of moves is not just who was cut, but how many former Chiefs are now waiting to see whether a familiar door opens again, or whether this is the point where a new path finally takes over. [Read more 🡒]
Former Chiefs Are Already Catching On Elsewhere After Cut-Down Day
The NFLs roster churn after cut-down day has already sent a familiar handful of former Chiefs looking for new homes, and several of them landed quickly. Emari Demercado was claimed by the Cowboys, Chu Godrick was claimed by the Dolphins, and Malik Herring also signed with Miami, while Esa Pole headed to the Commanders practice squad and Melvin Smith Jr. found a spot with the Titans.
Dallas and Miami, in particular, wasted little time adding depth pieces with Kansas City ties, and the Cowboys also brought in Wanya Morris on their practice squad. Jake Haener joined the Giants taxi squad as part of the same wave of post-cut roster movement, a reminder that even after final cuts, there is still plenty of NFL business left for players trying to stick somewhere new. [Read more 🡒]