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The Kansas City Chiefs recently re-signed cornerback and special teams ace Chris Lammons following the team’s mandatory minicamp.
Lammons, 26, was an exclusive rights free agent this past offseason, but the team did not offer him a contract tender. Lammons was wanted in connection to an alleged assault at a Las Vegas nightclub involving Saints RB Alvin Kamara. The incident took place around the Pro Bowl and left one victim with serious injuries. Lammons eventually surrendered himself to authorities, at which time he was arraigned and charged with a felony count of battery resulting in substantial bodily harm, and a gross misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit battery. He was later released on bond.
A hearing for Kamara, Lammons and the other two men involved in the altercation is scheduled for August 1. Police have claimed they have video evidence implicating both Kamara and Lammons as having assaulted the alleged victim.
The NFL’s personal conduct policy expressly dictates that first-time violations that involve felony assault or battery will receive a minimum six-game suspension. The league typically waits for the legal process to play out before handing out suspensions, but it’s likely that Lammons faces a suspension as early as this season. If a suspension is handed out ahead of the regular season, Lammons is still permitted to practice with the team at training camp and play during preseason games.
But here is the burning question throughout Chiefs Kingdom: Why would K.C. bring back Lammons after this incident, while also knowing that he’s facing a suspension?
Firstly, Lammons has been a member of the team since December of 2019, when he first joined the practice squad. The front office and coaching staff know the quality of his character perhaps better than anyone else in the league. They’ve also shown a propensity to give players second chances if they’re forthcoming about circumstances related to off-field incidents.
Secondly, a suspension could prove useful for a team like Kansas City when it comes to stashing some depth at a position that always needs it. When the regular season begins, if Lammons has already been suspended, he’ll be moved to the reserve/suspended list. On that list, Lammons will not count against the team’s 53-man roster limit. After he serves the length of his suspension, he’ll be eligible to return to the active roster. If it’s a six-game suspension or more, the team could possibly be looking for depth at the cornerback position. They’re already dealing with injuries this offseason with each of Rashad Fenton, L’Jarius Sneed, Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams missing time during OTAs or mandatory minicamp.
There isn’t a guarantee that Lammons makes the team when it’s all said and done. However, it’s not hard to see why the team chose to bring him back in the interim as they await word on a suspension. At the very least, he’s a player with experience in the system who can help offset some of the early offseason injuries at the position during training camp.
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