Tag: Elijah Lee

Chiefs sign preseason standout TE Matt Bushman to practice squad

After LB Elijah Lee was poached by the #Bears, the #Chiefs signed preseason standout TE Matt Bushman to the practice squad.

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought back a preseason standout on the practice squad after a player was poached.

According to the NFL’s personnel notice for Tuesday, the Chicago Bears signed LB Elijah Lee from the Chiefs’ practice squad on Tuesday. The K-State alumnus leaves Kansas City having appeared in five games this season, mostly on special teams, with six total tackles and one fumble recovery. He’ll provide depth for the Bears with news that LB Jack Sanborn is out for the season.

With both Jody Fortson and Noah Gray dealing with injuries at the tight end position, the Chiefs opted to fill Lee’s spot on the practice squad with a familiar face. The team signed TE Matt Bushman to the practice squad per the personnel notice.

Fans may recall that Bushman had a monster performance in preseason Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers. He led the team in yards with 73 and touchdowns with two. Unfortunately, Bushman suffered a fractured clavicle on his final reception during that game. He was subsequently waived with an injury designation and reverted to the team’s injured reserve list. He was later waived from the injured reserve list with an injury settlement.

Now, Bushman rejoins the team with tight end depth suddenly thin. Blake Bell has been designated to return from injured reserve, but it’s unclear when he’ll be ready to be activated. Kendall Blanton is the only other tight end on the practice squad in Kansas City, so Bushman could see some opportunities down the stretch.

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Chiefs release LB Elijah Lee, sign DT Cortez Broughton to practice squad

The #Chiefs released a player from the 53-man roster and signed another to the practice squad on Tuesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs made one roster move on the 53-man roster and another on the practice squad on Tuesday.

According to the NFL’s official personnel notice, the Chiefs have terminated the contract of LB Elijah Lee. It was a short stay on the 53-man roster for Lee, who was just signed from the practice squad ahead of the team’s Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The former K-State Wildcat was previously released during 53-man roster cuts in a procedural move to help the team get Blake Bell on injured reserve.

Lee is a vested veteran, which means he will immediately become a free agent and won’t need to clear the NFL’s waiver system. If Lee chooses to, he is eligible to be re-signed to the practice squad.

In addition to Lee’s release, Kansas City filled one of the team’s two vacant spaces on the practice squad with a familiar face. The Chiefs re-signed DT Cortez Broughton to the practice squad. Broughton was waived by the Chiefs ahead of training camp after he failed his physical. He spent the 2021 NFL season on the team’s practice squad and played three defensive snaps in Week 15 last year.

If you’re keeping count, the Chiefs have a free space on the 53-man roster and another space on the practice squad. They could keep the 53-man roster space open for the return of OT Lucas Niang, who is eligible to come off of the Reserve/PUP list following Week 4. It’s unlikely they’ll poach a player from another team’s practice squad, given the three-week commitment that it entails.

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Report: Chiefs plan to release LB Elijah Lee temporarily

The #Chiefs are releasing former K-State LB Elijah Lee, but only temporarily until they can place TE Blake Bell on injured reserve per report.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to make moves to trim their 53-man roster ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

According to KC Star beat writer Herbie Teope, the Chiefs have a plan in place as it relates to TE Blake Bell and his recent hip surgery. The team will keep Bell on the 53-man roster, but place him on injured reserve shortly after, allowing him to later be designated to return from injured reserve.

In order to make room for Bell on the 53-man roster, the Chiefs will release LB Elijah Lee temporarily. Lee is a vested veteran, so he doesn’t need to pass through the league’s waiver system. He can be re-signed to the roster as early as Wednesday after the transaction is made with Bell.

Lee signed on a one-year deal as a free agent this offseason after spending time with the 49ers, Lions and Browns. A St. Joseph, Missouri native, Blue Springs and K-State alum, Kansas City is home for Lee. He played a big role on defense and special teams during the preseason. Should he return to the 53-man roster, it seems like he’ll continue to play a key role this season.

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Chiefs LB Elijah Lee relishing opportunity to compete for starting spot

#Chiefs LB Elijah Lee is leaving it all on the football field as he competes for a starting spot with his hometown team. | from @TheJohnDillon

Poor linebacker play has plagued the Kansas City Chiefs over the past few seasons, but with a new influx of talent at the position in 2022, things are looking up for the beleaguered defense.

The release of Anthony Hitches in the offseason was a clear indicator of substantive change, and the selection of Leo Chenal in the third round of April’s draft cemented the future of the position. But the addition of veteran linebacker Elijah Lee, a St. Joseph, Missouri native and Blue Springs alum, could prove to be the most underrated move the Chiefs made since their loss in the AFC title game.

After bouncing around the league between 2017 and 2020, he found a home with the Cleveland Browns before inking a contract with his hometown team in March. Now primed to compete for meaningful snaps on a defense that is set out to prove that Chiefs football is about more than raw scoring power on offense. With a legitimate chance to become a defensive fixture on a championship-caliber team, in his fifth year in the league, Lee is leaving nothing on the table.

“You know, you relish it,” Lee said about the opportunity to compete for a starting role. “I don’t know how this thing is going to shake out. I’m just going to put my best foot forward. At the same time, some people just say that I have always been special teams but at the same time early on in (my) career, I was relied on to play early. So, I know what it takes to be in that position and take advantage of the role, however it shakes out. Wherever I can help I am going to put my best foot forward.”

He’ll have some stiff competition if he truly intends to start, but Lee knows what he is up against and doesn’t seem phased by the uphill battle he faces. Willie Gay Jr., the aforementioned Chenal, and sophomore sensation Nick Bolton are the presumed incumbents for key roles in the defense. However, with the ever-motivated Lee right behind them, the linebacker corps will be one of the most intriguing positions to watch as training camp in St. Joseph plays out.

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Chiefs to sign free agent LB Elijah Lee

The #Chiefs are set to sign a former K-State Wildcat on a one-year deal per a new report.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to sign a former Kansas State Wildcat and Kansas City native to the 90-man offseason roster.

Former K-State LB Elijah Lee tweeted out the Chiefs Kingdom hashtag to announce that he’d signed with the team. KC Star reporter Herbie Teope has since confirmed that Lee is signing with the team on a one-year deal. Lee played high school football in Blue Springs before heading up to Manhattan, Kansas to play for the Wildcats in college.

A former seventh-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, Lee has appeared in 66 NFL games with 6 career starts over the past five seasons. Most of that action came with the San Franciso 49ers, who signed Lee off the Vikings practice squad in 2017. He spent three seasons in San Francisco with the majority of the action coming in 2018, when he started six games and recorded 65 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two passes defended.

Lee has since spent time with both the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns, but he has mainly been a special teamer during his time with both teams. He actually played against Kansas City in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season, only recording special teams snaps, but securing one tackle during the game.

Listed at 6-3 and 230 pounds, Lee has the makings of an outside linebacker in the Chiefs’ 4-3 scheme. He’ll be a primary special teams contributor, but also in contention for the starting SAM or WILL job depending on where the team envisions Willie Gay Jr. in 2022.

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Browns sign LB Elijah Lee to the active roster from the practice squad

The Browns add Lee back to the active roster after releasing him earlier this week

Elijah Lee is back on the Cleveland Browns active 53-man roster once again. The Browns re-signed the linebacker off their own practice squad on Friday.

He fills the roster spot opened up when the team released veteran DE Joe Jackson on Thursday. Lee himself was released on Tuesday and quickly signed onto the Browns practice squad the following day. He will be eligible to play on Sunday in Los Angeles against the Chargers. Lee is one of the Browns’ top special teams performers.

Another linebacker, Anthony Walker, could return on Sunday as well. Walker is eligible to be activated off IR and has been trending towards being ready to play. The Browns have until 4 p.m. on Saturday to activate Walker, who has yet to play in the regular season. He was designated to return earlier in the week.

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Browns Anthony Walker returns from injured reserve; Elijah Lee returns

Two linebackers return for the Browns with Anthony Walker activated and Elijah Lee signed back to the practice squad:

The Cleveland Browns are 3 – 1 on the young 2021 NFL season but have been far from perfect. They have also been far from healthy including multiple starters missing multiple games along with Jedrick Wills leaving all four games this year.

The team is starting to get healthier with Ronnie Harrison cleared from concussion protocol (never being concussed in the first place), Chris Hubbard likely to return to activity this week, Greg Newsom II possible to play in Week 5 and, now, the return of Anthony Walker.

The Browns designated Walker for return from injured reserve and are expecting their defensive play-caller to return to the field this week. Walker was the team’s leading tackler in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs but went on injured reserve shortly thereafter.

With the minimum three games on the reserved list finished, Walker’s return was likely after the team cut Elijah Lee on Tuesday.

Within their announcement of Walker’s return, the team also announced that Lee was added back to their practice squad. A spot on the practice squad opened up after the Houston Texans signed receiver Davion Davis off of it and onto their active roster.

With Walker’s return, it will be interesting how linebackers’ snaps are split up. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has played well in limited action but also has special teams responsibilities. Malcolm Smith filled in for Walker while he was gone and played well while Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson have taken snaps as well.

Rookie Tony Fields III could see more time on special teams with Lee on the practice squad, unless the Browns elevate him for the game this week. Fields struggled with injuries throughout training camp.

Browns sign LB Elijah Lee to their 53-man roster

Elevated from the practice squad but signed to the 53-man for this week, Lee helps fill in with Walker missing a few weeks:

The Cleveland Browns are continuing their search for as much talent as possible at a variety of positions. As noted earlier, the team had eight players in for workouts this week including LB Reuben Foster.

With starting linebacker, and defensive play-caller, Anthony Walker on injured reserve for at least three weeks, the Browns have a significant hole to fill. Foster’s workout seems to be directly related to the Walker injury but he was not signed immediately.

With Foster working out late in the week, he would not be up to speed to help the team by Sunday. It is possible that he will be brought in, whether on the practice squad or the 53-man roster, early next week.

Instead of signing Foster, Cleveland signed linebacker Elijah Lee off of their own practice squad today. Brad Stainbrook broke the news yesterday:

 

The Browns confirmed Stainbrook’s report today noting that “Lee has appeared in 51 career games and logged 53 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack, while adding 14 special teams stops.” Lee was elevated from the team’s practice squad last week.

Browns elevate PK Chris Naggar, LB Elijah Lee from practice squad for Week 1

Kicker Chase McLaughlin is questionable so Naggar provides a backup plan

The Browns haven’t even played a single regular season game yet, but Cleveland is already on its third kicker due to injuries.

Due to the injury to placekicker Chase McLaughlin, the Browns have elevated PK Chris Naggar from the practice squad for the Week 1 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Browns also elevated LB Elijah Lee from the practice squad.

McLaughlin remains questionable with his hamstring injury, so elevating Naggar makes sense as an emergency backup option. Lee figures to get any of his action on special teams. The Browns, like all NFL teams, are permitted to call up two extra players from the practice squad without penalty.

Naggar is next in line after McLaughlin, who is already the injury replacement for Cody Parkey. The Browns placed Parkey on I.R. before the season.

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Browns officially sign Cody Parkey, Troy Hill, 3 others

Four of the five players are returning Browns whose re-signing were previously announced

The Cleveland Browns officially added five players to the roster on Monday. The NFL processed the transactions for the free agent signings, all of which had been previously reported.

The only newcomer added is cornerback Troy Hill, who signed a two-year contract with a couple of voidable seasons as well. Hill spent the last five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.

Four Browns re-signed with the club:

  • Kicker Cody Parkey
  • WR Rashard Higgins
  • LB Elijah Lee
  • WR/KR Jojo Natson

No other Browns transactions were processed on Monday’s official transaction report. The actual contract figures for the new signings will be available shortly.