Chiefs News 1/12: Could Kansas City target L’Jarius Sneed for return?

The cornerback has not lived up to the contract he signed with Tennessee.

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L’Jarius Sneed’s downfall could set up a perfect low-cost Chiefs return | Arrowhead Addict

Sneed is currently two years into a four-year contract negotiated with the Titans following a trade to Nashville by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. The Chiefs secured a third-round pick from Tennessee in exchange for Sneed, who had received the franchise tag by K.C. general manager Brett Veach. That allowed the Chiefs some level of control over Sneed’s future, and the Titans, at the time, were happy to pay for Sneed’s services.

The Titans’ hope is that Sneed would help to reinvent a soft secondary that needed the sort of lockdown presence he’d provided the Chiefs pass defense during championship runs during his four seasons with the team. However, Sneed had health issues from the outset and things only spiraled out of control from there.

To date, Sneed has played in an average of 6 games per season for the Titans after dealing with quad and knee injuries that limited him for long stretches in both 2024 and 2025. Even when on the field, however, Sneed’s presence wouldn’t be described as incredibly impactful. Instead, the Titans have lived with buyer’s remorse for most of the marriage.

Why Reid Waiting Could Be a Good Thing for Chiefs | Sports Illustrated

In addition to the four paths his offensive-coordinator decision could take, Path No. 5 has yet to surface – although it might be rocketing like a missile launched from a submarine.

Matt LaFleur has won 79 games in seven seasons (2019-25) as Packers head coach. But Green Bay dropped a 31-27 playoff game in disappointing fashion on Saturday night, blowing a 21-3 lead. And with John Harbaugh getting ready to kick off a week of serious interviews, the Packers may want to enter the fray.

If that happens and the Packers do move on from LaFleur, Reid’s patience could be rewarded. The Chiefs head coach said Monday he wasn’t in a hurry to make any moves regarding his offensive coordinator, noting he had internal and external candidates.

And if LaFleur becomes an external candidate for Reid, that likely won’t happen for a few weeks. LaFleur certainly would interview for many of the vacant head-coach roles before settling for offensive-coordinator openings.

2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Jets take franchise-altering QB with No. 2 pick | The New York Post

9. Chiefs

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

S Bryan Cook could leave in free agency, and if you know defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, he’d be pounding the table for this culture-changer impact defender.

Around the NFL

Bloodied but unbowed Josh Allen leads Bills to thrilling playoff win over Jaguars | The Guardian

Allen, meanwhile, showed his toughness. He twice ended up in the medical tent in the first half but didn’t miss a snap. He was hammered in the head twice during one play, with Josh Hines-Allen landing on the side of his helmet right after teammate Travon Walker tackled him to the ground. Allen’s left ear appeared to be bleeding, but he got checked out and returned to the field.

Allen later slammed his right hand into the helmet of right guard O’Cyrus Torrence after releasing the ball. And he completed the injury trifecta when his left leg was bent awkwardly on his two-yard TD run. Allen stayed on the ground following that last hit and gingerly walked to the sideline and back into the tent. But, as usual, he powered through and was back on the field making plays.

The Bills had been 0-5 on the road in the playoffs under coach Sean McDermott, starting with a 10-3 loss at Jacksonville in the 2017 wildcard round. The Bills had dropped eight consecutive postseason games on the road since winning at Miami in the 1992 AFC championship game. It had been the NFL’s second-longest, active road playoff skid.

Niners TE George Kittle suffers torn Achilles in win over Eagles | NFL.com

“Losing Kittle early in the game was obviously a depressing play for everybody when you see that, and guys stepped it up and still made plays and competed,” Shanahan said.” To find a way to win that game, we thought it would be a grind-it game, that’s how we say it, and it was. Our defense allowed it to be that way.”

The seven-time Pro Bowler was being tackled by safety Marcus Epps toward the sideline when his calf appeared to pop as he planted it in the ground. He went down and received medical attention before being helped onto a cart.

Quarterback Brock Purdy and other teammates tapped Kittle on the helmet as he was carted into the locker room, reminiscent of the last time these two teams met in the postseason and Purdy suffered an early elbow injury.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel gets bloody lip celebrating late sack with Milton Williams | The Athletic

Vrabel took the hit in stride, even going back to Williams to excitedly show the player the blood on his face.

“We talked about being willing to spill blood out there,” Vrabel said in his postgame news conference. “Milton took that to heart.”

Vrabel got the cut cleaned up on the sideline and went about his business, standing outside the locker room and greeting every player, coach and team staffer to walk through the door.

This isn’t the first time this season that Vrabel has been bloodied. In early August, during a training camp joint practice with the Washington Commanders, Vrabel jumped into a dogpile to break up a fight among players. He suffered a minor cut on the cheek.

“You should see the other guy,” Vrabel quipped to one player.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

4 things the Chiefs need to do in the 2026 offseason

1. Move on from expensive veteran contracts

The Chiefs need to be aggressive this offseason, and that may require difficult decisions involving veteran starters. These players have not necessarily underperformed, but the financial savings gained by moving on from their contracts could outweigh their on-field value.

The most likely cap casualties include right tackle Jawaan Taylor, linebacker Drue Tranquill and defensive end Mike Danna.

Taylor is scheduled to make $27 million in 2026, but releasing him would leave only $7 million in dead cap, creating $20 million in savings. His tenure in Kansas City has been uneven, and with Jaylon Moore returning in 2026, moving on may be the prudent choice.

Danna carries a cap hit north of $11 million in 2026, but releasing him would result in just $2 million in dead cap. While he has been a solid role player, his production no longer aligns with the cost of his contract.

Tranquill is set to earn more than $7 million in 2026, with roughly $1 million in dead cap. Given his age and the team’s broader needs, the Chiefs may be better served reallocating those resources.