The Kansas City Chiefs have protected their first practice squad player of the 2020 season.
According to the NFL’s transaction report on Tuesday, the Chiefs have protected practice squad DT Braxton Hoyett. A new feature of NFL practice squads this season allows for teams to protect up to four players from poaching each week. Teams can choose four new players to be protected every Tuesday.
Last week, 21 NFL teams protected players on their practice squad, but the Chiefs were not among them. They risked all 16 of their players being signed away by other NFL teams. Now, for Kansas City, this isn’t as big of a risk as it is for other teams. Players know they have a chance to win a Super Bowl ring playing on the practice squad after seeing 2019’s practice squad players get rings ahead of the season.
21 NFL teams protected players on their practice squad today and the #Chiefs were not among them. Under new rules, teams are allowed to protect four practice squad players from poaching beginning weekly every Tuesday.
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) September 8, 2020
Hoyett, 24, got his NFL start with the Tennesse Titans. He first signed to the Kansas City practice squad in October of 2019. He spent the entire season with the Chiefs and he eventually signed a reserve/future deal to return for the 2020 season. The 6-2 and 302-pound defender is known as a run-stuffer on the defensive line.
It makes sense for the team to protect Hoyett from poaching this week. Rotational DT Khalen Saunders suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 1 against the Houston Texans. This certainly signals that Saunders could miss the Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers and that Hoyett could be elevated to provide depth at the position. Either way, the Chiefs want to ensure they have a suitable replacement available for Sunday.
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