When the Kansas City Chiefs cut the offseason roster down to 53 players, one of the most surprising cuts was left tackle Esa Pole, who started multiple games down the stretch of last season.
He was signed to the Washington Commanders’ practice squad and may be in line to be called up Week 1. The Commanders’ veteran left tackle D.J. Humphries was released on Friday.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
Make sure you download the SB Nation app on your mobile
device! For Apple devices, click here. For Android devices, click here.
The latest Kansas City Chiefs news
Washington Commanders release ex-Kansas City Chiefs OL in Week 1 | Chiefs Wire
According to veteran NFL reporter Ben Standig, the Washington Commanders released former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman D.J. Humphries on September 11.
Humphries entered the league as a first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFL Draft and signed with the Chiefs on November 25, 2024. After spending the back half of the 2024 season in Kansas City, Humphries caught on with the Los Angeles Rams in 2025 before catching on with the Commanders earlier this year.
Chris Jones Reveals What’s Changed About Andy Reid in 2026 | Heavy Sports
“It was tough,” Jones said of Reid’s training camp. “I think coach Reid went back in time and gave us some challenges. We’re a young team, and I think we needed that to reset the tempo and reset the goal of this team and what we’re going to be. It was definitely very challenging every day. It seemed like at times you felt like you reached a threshold of how hard it can get, and for me it just kept getting harder. We were able to battle through it. Every day was highly valuable competition. I think we made each other battle. We challenged each other, and overall it’s going to do good for us as a team.”
Chiefs add Chris Jones to injury report before Monday night matchup with Broncos | A to Z Sports
The news is less than ideal for Kansas City, especially considering that the Broncos boast what is widely considered one of the best offensive lines in football, led by left tackle Garrett Bolles and right guard Quinn Meinerz.
After practicing Thursday and Friday, the Chiefs are scheduled to hold one final practice on Saturday, with a brief media look scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Central Time. That will be followed by head coach Andy Reid’s final address at 1 p.m.
If Jones is limited or out, Chiefs rookie first-rounder Peter Woods would likely see more playing time.
Chiefs Recognize Technical Sergeant Kenyan Francis as This Week’s Tribute to the Troops Honoree
An Air Traffic Controller, Technical Sergeant Francis is tasked with ensuring the safe and efficient flow of both military and civilian aircraft while also training numerous other controllers to handle this critical role.
It’s an invaluable responsibility, and when asked why he decided to join our Armed Forces 12 years ago, Francis didn’t mince words.
“Everything I have done has been in the service of our country,” Francis said. “It has come with its sacrifices, but I wouldn’t change anything. I am grateful to the Air Force for giving me a great life trajectory. It has set me up to be successful in all aspects of my life.”
NFL Week 1 picks, predictions, schedule, odds, fantasy tips | ESPN
What we’re hearing on the Chiefs: The biggest storyline for Monday’s game is the return of Mahomes. But Mahomes will need plenty of help to defeat the AFC West rival. WR Rashee Rice knows as much, especially since he’s entering the final season of his rookie contract as the Chiefs’ projected No. 1 receiving target. Rice wants to have a breakout season, and he was able to get through the Chiefs’ grueling training camp after having a surgery on his right knee in May. “Truthfully speaking, I think I’m more in shape than I was [last season],” Rice said Thursday. “I’m more confident in being in the spots that I have to be, as far as being on the same page as [Mahomes] because we’re both coming off an injury. We’re kind of seeing ourselves get back to our full potential.” — Nate Taylor
Around the NFL
Report: Bears, D’Andre Swift agree to a three-year, $33.75 milion extension that includes $27.5 million guaranteed | NFL.com
“I always look inside-out,” McVay said. “I didn’t do a good enough job getting us ready to go. There were some opportunities where maybe the game could have flipped, but they deserved the win. They were ready to go. And we’ll look at it. We’ll see where we can improve and be better moving forward.
“But this is a good humbling day. This is what can sometimes happen in sports. I love this locker room and, you know, the first thing that I’m going to look at is myself, and I have to do a better job for a group collectively, with our coaches, with our players, and we’ll look at this film, and we’ll get back to work because, clearly, that’s obviously what we’ve got to do, and sometimes sports can humble you, and today was one of those days.”
Sources: 49ers reward Kyle Shanahan with multiyear extension | ESPN
The San Francisco 49ers have given a multiyear extension to coach Kyle Shanahan, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday.
Terms of the deal, which was first reported by The Ringer, are not yet known, but he had been under contract with San Francisco through the 2027 season.
In his 10 seasons, Shanahan has an 83-67 regular-season record and has guided the 49ers to six playoff appearances, including Super Bowls trips — both losses — following the 2019 and 2023 seasons. He has won 10 or more games in a season five times.
Falcons to start Cooper Rush at QB with Tua Tagovailoa ruled out | The Athletic
Rush was named the starting quarterback Friday afternoon after Tagovailoa was ruled out for the game because of an oblique injury suffered in Thursday’s practice. Penix, who is still rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in Week 11 last year, has also been ruled out, meaning Jack Strand, the undrafted rookie out of Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead, will be Rush’s backup.
“The mindset and prep hasn’t changed,” Strand said. “That’s how it has to be for any QB in the room. … Always in the back of your head, you have to be ready to go.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
The Chiefs’ 2026 season, starting Week 1, is all on Andy Reid
This season is about a lot of things, but really it’s about one thing: Is Andy Reid still the elite coach he’s been for the better part of the last 25 years? If he is, the Chiefs should be just fine in his steady hands. If he’s not, we might look back at this week’s offensive line decisions as the first indication of what’s to come.
All eyes will be focused on the left side of the line Monday night, but the spotlight is still on Reid.
From The Feed
Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media
- Facebook: Like our page
- Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
- X: Follow @ArrowheadPride
- AP Staff on X: See complete list
