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Kansas City Chiefs 2022 Roster Cut Tracker

The Chiefs are setting up their final 53-man roster as the 2022 regular season approaches.

Following the Kansas City Chiefs' 2022 preseason slate that concluded with a win over the Green Bay Packers, the club now faces another daunting task: final roster cutdowns.

The past two Tuesdays have seen NFL teams be required to trim their rosters from 90 to 85 players, then 85 to 80 players. This time around, all 32 clubs were given a Tuesday, Aug. 30 deadline to have their final 53-man rosters set by 4 p.m. EST. For the Chiefs, a team that saw a ton of roster turnover during the offseason and plenty of competition throughout training camp at the preseason, this proved to be no easy feat. Nevertheless, the club is finished getting its total cut down.

For potential updates on those who made and didn't make Kansas City's 53-man roster on Tuesday, check out Wednesday's practice squad and roster news tracker.

Tracking Kansas City Chiefs Roster Cuts

  • Per an official announcement by the Chiefs from their Twitter account on Saturday morning, the club has cut its roster down by five players. Offensive tackle Roderick Johnson is being released, and quarterback Dustin Crum, running back Tayon Fleet-Davis, wide receiver Aaron Parker and linebacker Mike Rose have been waived by the club. 
  • Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Chiefs are releasing wide receiver Josh Gordon after just under a full calendar year with the club.
    Gordon tweeted his thanks to the Chiefs and their fans: "Appreciate all the @Chiefs kingdom has done for me and my family this past year. Thanks for the opportunity and the many memories."
  • The Chiefs signed defensive tackle Danny Shelton earlier in August, but his time with the club was short-lived. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Kansas City is releasing the veteran interior defensive lineman.
  • Shelton wasn't the only defensive tackle to be released by the Chiefs, as Taylor Stallworth was also released by the team on Tuesday morning. His agent, Brett Tessler of Tessler Sports Management, broke the news.
  • Offensive lineman Vitaliy Gurman was waived by the Chiefs on Tuesday morning, according to Jesse Newell of The Kansas City Star. Newell adds that Gurman could land back on the team's practice squad if he clears waivers.
  • Defensive lineman Kehinde Oginni Hassan was brought into the Chiefs organization as a part of the NFL's International Player Pathway, but he was waived by the team on Tuesday per Zack Eisen of Arrowhead Report. Eisen adds that the expectation is that Oginni Hassan will end up back on Kansas City's practice squad if he clears waivers. 
  • Despite making the team coming out of the preseason a year ago and having a productive camp and preseason slate this year, wide receiver Daurice Fountain was released by the Chiefs on Tuesday per Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star
    Although Fountain was released, it doesn't appear that anyone else will be taking his spot on the team. Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports that Kansas City is keeping just five wide receivers. 
  • Safety Devon Key has been cut by the Chiefs, per McDowell
  • In correspondence with keeping Blake Bell on the 53-man roster by the deadline, the Chiefs are releasing linebacker Elijah Lee and plan to bring him back to the roster once Bell is placed on the injured reserve list (more on that below), per Teope
    After the news broke, Lee reassured the Chiefs' fans that there was nothing to worry about:
  • Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Chiefs have cut safety Zayne Anderson. Anderson entered the league as an undrafted free agent last year with Kansas City.
  • Linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr., who was signed to the Chiefs' roster on a fully guaranteed one-year, $1.77 million contract earlier this offseason, is being cut per McDowell
  • Despite flashing during the preseason, 2020 fifth-round wide receiver Cornell Powell is being released by the Chiefs. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN had the initial report. This marks the second year in a row that Powell was unable to break camp with the team. 
  • Fowler also reports that wide receiver Corey Coleman is being released. 
  • Per Teope, Chiefs rookie offensive lineman Mike Caliendo is being waived but is "a prime candidate" to possibly return to Kansas City's practice squad.
  • Offensive lineman Austin Reiter is being released by Kansas City, per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, but is expected to return to Kansas City on its practice squad. Nate Taylor of The Athletic confirmed Wilson's report.
  • Rookie linebacker Jack Cochrane is being waived by the Chiefs, per Pelissero
  • Pelissero also reports that Kansas City cut tight end Jordan Franks.
  • Defensive end Azur Kamara was cut by the Chiefs on Tuesday afternoon, according to Wilson. Teope confirmed the report and added that Kamara could have a shot at making the team's practice squad. 
  • After the NFL's 3 p.m. deadline was reached, the Chiefs announced their final five moves that got them down to the league's required 53-man threshold. Cornerback Dicaprio Bootle, defensive tackle Matt Dickerson, running back Jerrion Ealy and safety Nazeeh Johnson were waived. Tight end Matt Bushman was waived as well, but with an injury designation following the broken clavicle he suffered in Kansas City's preseason finale win over the Green Bay Packers.

Full List of Players Waived/Released by the Chiefs

  • OT Roderick Johnson (released)
  • QB Dustin Crum (waived)
  • RB Tayon Fleet-Davis (waived)
  • WR Aaron Parker (waived)
  • LB Mike Rose (waived)
  • WR Josh Gordon (released)
  • DT Danny Shelton (released)
  • DT Taylor Stallworth (released)
  • OL Vitaliy Gurman (waived)
  • DL Kehinde Oginni Hassan (waived)
  • WR Daurice Fountain (released)
  • S Devon Key (waived) 
  • LB Elijah Lee (released)
  • S Zayne Anderson (waived)
  • LB Jermaine Carter (released)
  • WR Cornell Powell (released)
  • WR Corey Coleman (released)
  • OL Mike Caliendo (waived)
  • OL Austin Reiter (released)
  • LB Jack Cochrane (waived)
  • TE Jordan Franks (waived)
  • DL Azur Kamara (waived) 
  • CB Dicaprio Bootle (waived)
  • DT Matt Dickerson (waived)
  • RB Jerrion Ealy (waived) 
  • S Nazeeh Johnson (waived) 
  • TE Matt Bushman (waived — injury designation)

Reportedly Made the Cut

  • Per Teope, running back Ronald Jones "played his way on the roster" in the Chiefs' preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers. Jones made Kansas City's initial 53-man roster.
  • Chiefs tight end Blake Bell is currently recovering from surgery to repair a hip flexor injury and, per Taylor, the veteran tight end is expected to remain on the initial 53-man roster for the Chiefs before going on the injured reserve list for "the first few weeks" of the regular season. Taylor adds that quarterback Shane Buechele has made the roster as well.
  • Eisen reports that defensive end Joshua Kaindoh, the Chiefs' fourth-round pick a year ago, has made it through roster cuts and is on Kansas City's initial 53-man roster.