The Kansas City Chiefs made a few transactions that didn’t involve releasing players in order to get the roster down to 53.
They placed two suspended players (Mike Pennel and Bashaud Breeland) on the suspended list, but they also placed OL Martinas Rankin on the reserve/PUP list.
Rankin started five games at guard for the Chiefs in 2019, after being acquired in the trade that sent RB Carlos Hyde to the Houston Texans. Rankin suffered a knee injury that ultimately landed him on injured reserve for the remainder of the 2019 season. Rankin remained sidelined during 2020 training camp, working back in his recovery from his knee injury.
So what does going to the PUP list mean for Rankin?
Rankin is permitted to attend team meetings and use team facilities for rehab and recovery work, but he’s not allowed to practice with the team for the next six weeks. After six weeks another six-week window opens up, Rankin is allowed to return to practice and the Chiefs have six weeks to activate him. If he’s not activated at the end of those six weeks, he goes to injured reserve and his 2020 season is over.
The earliest that Rankin can return to play is during the Week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium.
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