In the midst of wide receiver injuries, the Kansas City Chiefs elevated Andrew Armstrong from the practice squad for Week 6’s contest against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Armstrong, a 2025 Miami Dolphins undrafted signing out of Arkansas, caught one pass for 13 yards in his NFL debut. Armstrong finished the game with 42 offensive snaps played (while on the field for nine more plays on special teams).
With starting wideout Rashee Rice set to miss his second consecutive game due to a hamstring, it was widely
expected that Armstrong would again get the nod against the Seattle Seahawks on “Sunday Night Football.”
It turns out that won’t come via a second practice squad elevation. According to Friday’s NFL transactions report, Kansas City has signed Armstrong to the 53-man roster.
Armstrong saw extensive action in Kansas City’s preseason and seemed a strong candidate to make the final roster. However, he was waived at the roster cut deadline and signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad the next day.
An unexpected running back injury may have put some urgency on the roster shuffling. Third-string runner Brashard Smith reportedly injured his hamstring in Thursday’s practice. According to head coach Andy Reid, Smith will be ruled out for Sunday.
Reid also confirmed that rookie running back Jadyn Ott will be elevated from the practice squad to be available on Sunday night. Ott joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma following April’s NFL Draft. He played for current Chiefs running backs coach DeMarco Murray with the Sooners.
Sunday will mark Ott’s NFL debut.
Taking Armstrong’s place on the practice squad will be a running back reinforcement in Nate Carter. Carter had been on Kansas City’s practice squad all season, but he was cut on Wednesday when linebacker Aiden Fisher was added. Carter recorded nine carries for 60 yards in 2025 with the Atlanta Falcons.
After cutting linebacker Cam Jones this week and officially placing tackle Josh Simmons on the Reserve/Injured (IR) list Thursday, the Chiefs technically have an open spot on the 53-man roster even after promoting Armstrong. However, linebacker Cooper McDonald is widely expected to be activated from IR on Saturday to allow him to suit up in Seattle. McDonald was injured in the Chiefs’ Week 1 contest against the Denver Broncos.
