Kansas City Chiefs rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane was a midweek downgrade in practice this week as he continues managing a preseason shoulder injury.
Although Delane was listed as questionable on Friday’s final injury report for Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, Kansas City updated his status to out on Saturday before departing for the road contest.
Delane previously left the Chiefs’ home opener against Denver with the injury and ultimately did not play in Week 2 despite being active.
The Chiefs also clarified that rookie pass rusher R Mason Thomas — who was listed as questionable after missing Friday’s practice for personal reasons — will travel separately from the team to Denver. Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest expects the designation to be removed once Thomas arrives in Denver.
Delane’s impending absence, however, was not the only news on Saturday for Kansas City’s secondary. The team placed veteran cornerback L’Jarius Sneed — listed as questionable in consecutive weeks with a recurring knee ailment — on the Reserve/Injured (IR) list. After playing 63% of the defensive snaps in his second stint in Kansas City, Sneed will be sidelined for a minimum of four games.
Replacing him on the active roster will be cornerback Melvin Smith. Smith joined Kansas City in 2025 as an undrafted free agent out of small-school Southern Arkansas. He signed to the Chiefs’ active roster late last season but has not appeared in a game.
Smith was waived during the final roster cuts in August. He was actually claimed by the Tennessee Titans the next day — only to find himself waived again before Week 1. Smith rejoined Kansas City’s practice squad on September 16.
Likely as an insurance policy for Thomas, the Chiefs used a practice squad elevation on defensive end Tyreke Smith. Smith was previously elevated for Kansas City’s Week 3 contest against the Miami Dolphins, only to be declared inactive for the contest. He will have one more permitted elevation.
