The Kansas City Chiefs have made a few roster moves on Thursday ahead of their Week 15 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on “Thursday Night Football.”
Unfortunately, the team will be without Chris Jones, Josh Gordon and Willie Gay Jr. after all three players were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week. The team ruled out Gay Jr. on Wednesday, and they did not activate Jones or Gordon ahead of the game on Thursday.
With the 53-man roster missing several players, the team has elevated four players from the practice squad, three via COVID replacement and one via standard elevation. The team signaled their intentions to elevate several of these players when they protected them on the practice squad on Tuesday.
The four players coming up from the practice squad are DT Cortez Broughton, WR Daurice Fountain, CB Dicaprio Bootle, and LB Darius Harris. Broughton is the one player coming up via standard elevation, while the other three are designated COVID replacements. This is an important distinction as the COVID replacement designation does not count against the two standard elevations players are allotted during the regular season.
Broughton is a likely replacement for Jones at the defensive tackle position. Bootle is likely insurance at cornerback with L’Jarius Sneed ruled out and Charvarius Ward questionable. Harris is a replacement for Gay and Fountain a replacement for Gordon.
Broughton is the only player of the bunch who hasn’t been on the active roster for the Chiefs before. A former draft pick by the Chargers, he should see some action tonight with Derrick Nnadi, Jarran Reed and Tershawn Wharton as the only other defensive tackles on the roster. Fountain, Bootle and Harris are more likely to play bigger roles on special teams. That said, it’s worth noting that Harris started a game against the Chargers last season in Week 17. He recorded 10 total tackles and a pass defended in that game.
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