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The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to free agency for options at the defensive end position.
There has been a ton of injuries throughout the season at the position group dating all the way back to the preseason. Second-year defensive end Breeland Speaks suffered a season-ending knee injury before the season started, Frank Clark has dealt with a pinched nerve in his neck since training camp, Alex Okafor has dealt with a hip injury and an ankle injury. It has been reported that standout and sack leader Emmanuel Ogbah will have season-ending surgery on a torn pec. The Chiefs technically only have one healthy player at the position right now in Tanoh Kpassagnon.
The team has already begun its quest to find a new defensive end. On Tuesday, the team reported a workout on the NFL’s transaction report of free-agent defensive end Eric Lee. Most recently, Lee spent time with the Detroit Lions, appearing in nine games during the 2018 season. He’s also spent time on their practice squad until early October of 2019.
Lee entered the league out of the University of South Florida, joining the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. Lee spent time with the New England Patriots in 2017, where he served under now-Chiefs defensive line coach Brendan Daly. He started five games for the Patriots that season and posted 19 tackles, three tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and an interception.
The Daly connection suggests this player could pick up the Chiefs’ system quickly, which might be necessitated by injuries. The Chiefs have not yet signed Lee, but the possibility remains as they mull their options before placing Ogbah on injured reserve.