Chiefs Shake Up Roster with Bold Moves Ahead of Black Friday Showdown with Raiders

ANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Kansas City Chiefs made several transactions Tuesday as they prepare for a short-week Black Friday rivalry game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

After several league insiders reported Friday that Kansas City agreed to a deal with former Pro Bowl offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, the Chiefs made the signing official Tuesday.

Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Matthew Wright (19) and holder Tommy Townsend (5) watch Wright’s 59-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)(Charlie Riedel | AP)

“You can’t remember too many of them that come in to play like that,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said of Humphries’ signing. “I love his personality and he’s excited to get in here and learn what we do.”

The 2021 Pro Bowler for the Arizona Cardinals is returning from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2023 season, something Nagy said leaves him in need of a ramp-up period with six games remaining in the Chiefs’ regular season.

It’s probably day-to-day to see where he’s at,” Nagy said. “There’s so much that goes into it with any player that comes off an injury, and to a new team on top of that. It’s going to take some time.”

Humphries could provide help to the Chiefs’ offensive line. Through 11 games, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been sacked 27 times, one off from the most sacks he’s taken in his seven-season career.

Kansas City placed tight end Peyton Hendershot on injured reserve and restored tight end Baylor Cupp to the practice squad. Hendershot, who was traded to the Chiefs at the end of the preseason, had three receptions for 26 yards in five games with the Chiefs this season.

The Chiefs also signed kicker Matthew Wright to the practice squad. Wright previously kicked for the Chiefs in 2022 when kicker Harrison Butker missed time due to an ankle injury. His signing came two weeks after the Chiefs signed rookie kicker Spencer Shrader off the New York Jets practice squad and two days after Shrader made a game-winning kick against the Carolina Panthers.

Shrader missed practice Tuesday due to a hamstring injury.

Defensive end Cameron Thomas, who Kansas City traded with Arizona for in the preseason, was waived Tuesday, and the Chiefs said defensive end Truman Jones and tackle Lucas Niang had their practice squad contracts terminated.

The moves come ahead of Friday’s 2 p.m. CT game against the Las Vegas Raiders. It remains to be seen whether running back Isiah Pacheco (broken fibula) or defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee) will return to the lineup Friday. Both were full participants in Tuesday’s practice according to the Chiefs’ injury report.