Tag: marcus kemp

Chiefs’ Jerrion Ealy suspended by NFL, Marcus Kemp fills his spot on practice squad

#Chiefs practice squad RB/WR Jerrion Ealy has been suspended by the NFL for violating their performance-enhancing substances policy. KC has signed WR Marcus Kemp in his place on the practice squad.

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought back a familiar face on the practice squad, but they’ve also lost a practice squad player for six games.

According to the NFL’s personnel notice for Monday, Chiefs practice squad WR/RB Jerrion Ealy has been suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. An undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss, Ealy was released during 53-man roster cuts and signed to the practice squad promptly after. He’s been a developmental player for the team with upside on special teams. He’ll move to the reserve/suspended list for the next six games and won’t count toward the practice squad.

Replacing Ealy on the practice squad is former Chiefs WR Marcus Kemp, who was reported to be visiting the team over the weekend. Kemp originally signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Hawaii in 2017. He primarily played special teams during his tenure in Kansas City, with just a handful of catches and opportunities on offense during his career.

Kemp left the Chiefs this past offseason and joined the New York Giants. He suffered a hamstring injury during the course of his time in New York. He landed on injured reserve, where he was eventually released with an injury settlement. Now healthy, Kemp returns to Kansas City to reinforce the special teams unit.

With players like Elijah Lee and Dicaprio Bootle already having used multiple practice squad elevations, it makes a ton of sense to add a player like Kemp to the fold. Expect that Dave Toub will get him up to speed and have him ready to be called up in a standard practice squad elevation as early as this week.

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Chiefs to host WR Marcus Kemp on a visit

The #Chiefs are set to host WR Marcus Kemp on a visit with the intention of signing him to the practice squad per report.

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing in a familiar face for a visit.

According to Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick, former Chiefs WR Marcus Kemp is taking a visit with the team. Should Kemp pass his physical the front office intends to add him to the practice squad per the report. This would provide the team with some valuable depth as they deal with injuries to Mecole Hardman (heel), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (abdomen) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee).

A former undrafted free agent signing by the Chiefs in 2017, Kemp left the team as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason. He spent the offseason with the New York Giants and former Chiefs QB coach Mike Kafka, but he landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He was eventually waived with an injury settlement.

Kemp has appeared in 43 career games with Kansas City over four seasons, recording four receptions on eight targets for 42 yards. Two of those receptions went for first downs. He spent the entire 2021 NFL season on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster.

Kemp has mostly been a special teams player for the Chiefs during his career. He’s never played fewer than 60% of the special teams snaps in Kansas City in a healthy season in his career. I get the sense that this move is more about providing the team with another option to elevate from the practice squad who can contribute on special teams. They’re already running out of practice squad elevations for players like Elijah Lee and Dicaprio Bootle, who have both used two-of-three elevations. This gives them another multi-phase special teamer for Dave Toub to elevate on a weekly basis.

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Giants claim WR Jaylon Moore, CB Harrison Hand off of waivers

The New York Giants have claimed WR Jaylon Moore and two others off of waivers, while placing two on injured reserve and releasing one.

With injuries mounting at the wide receiver position, the New York Giants were forced to scour the waiver wire on Wednesday and they came back with a catch.

The team has claimed Jaylon Moore off of waivers from the Baltimore Ravens. He is likely to take the roster spot of Collin Johnson, who suffered a torn Achilles on Wednesday and is out for the season.

Moore, 25, was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of UT Martin in 2020. He spent each of the previous two seasons on their practice squad and has an obvious connection to current Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

The 5-foot-11, 191-pound Moore was named 2019 The CFB Network All-Ohio Valley first team and 2019 Phil Steele Preseason All-OVC second team as a senior.

Moore missed five games in 2021 due to injury, but managed to haul in 16 receptions for 292 yards and totaled five touchdowns.

In addition to Moore, the Giants also claimed wide receiver Bailey Gaither off of waivers from the Ravens and defensive back Harrison Hand off of waivers from the Minnesota Vikings.

Gaither, 25, was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted rookie out of San Jose State in 2021. He also made a stop with the Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL) before joining Baltimore this offseason.

Hand, 23, was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in the 2020 NFL draft out of Temple. He’s appeared in 23 career games (one start), recording 23 tackles, three passes defensed and one interception.

In order to clear room for the trio, tight end Jordan Akins was cut, while Johnson and wide receiver Marcus Kemp were placed on injured reserve.

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Giants sign four players in flurry of roster moves

The New York Giants have signed four players, including safety Andrew Adams, and parted ways with four others.

The New York Giants announced the addition of four players on Tuesday, including safety Andrew Adams.

In addition to Adams, the Giants have also signed wide receiver Marcus Kemp, offensive tackle Kamaal Seymour and defensive end Nick Williams.

All four players had worked out for the team on Monday.

Adams entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of UConn, signing with the Giants following the 2016 NFL draft. He spent the first two seasons of his career with Big Blue before stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018, 2019-2020, 2021), Detroit Lions (2019) and Philadelphia Eagles (2021).

The 32-year-old Williams was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2013 NFL draft. The Kansas City Chiefs signed him off of the Steelers’ practice squad in 2014 and he remained with the team into 2016. After being waived by the Chiefs, he briefly joined the Miami Dolphins and later spent two seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Kemp signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted rookie out of Hawaii following the 2017 NFL draft. He’s spent most of his career with the team save for a brief stint with the Dolphins in 2020.

Seymour joined the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 but was waived last May with a non-football injury. He has never appeared in an NFL game.

To make room for the four signees, the Giants waived defensive back Henry Black, defensive tackle Jabari Ellis and wide receiver Travis Toivonen, and terminated the contract of cornerback Maurice Canady.

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Chiefs activate WR Marcus Kemp from Reserve/COVID-19 list

The #Chiefs activated WR Marcus Kemp from the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, also receiving a temporary roster exemption as they sort out the 53-man roster.

To kick things off following the bye week, the Kansas City Chiefs have activated their lone player who was on the Reserve/COVID-19 list this week.

According to the NFL’s official personnel notice, the Chiefs have activated WR Marcus Kemp to the 53-man roster from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Kemp was placed on the list back on November 18th ahead of the Chiefs’ tilt with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11. The team elevated WR Daurice Fountain from the practice squad to replace Kemp during that game, primarily serving as a gunner on the special teams unit.

Kemp will be back in the fold for Week 13 against the Denver Broncos, which will be a boon to Dave Toub’s unit. Kansas City did receive a temporary roster exemption for Kemp that expires on December 1st. That means Kemp won’t count against the 53-man roster until then as the team decides how to proceed with their current roster.

There were no transactions to activate OL Kyle Long from the Reserve/PUP list, but the Chiefs still have one day to make a transaction there. When he spoke to the media earlier, Chiefs HC Andy Reid said they’d be making a decision on Long today.

The 53-man roster currently sits at 53 players so the team will need to make at least one transaction to clear space for Kemp when the roster exemption expires. Should they activate Long tomorrow, they’ll need to make an additional transaction to clear space there.

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Chiefs WR Marcus Kemp placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list

The #Chiefs announced that they placed special teams ace Marcus Kemp on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday.

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The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that they played WR and stud special teamer Marcus Kemp on the Reserve/COVID-19 list this morning. As a result, he likely won’t be able to play in the team’s Week 11 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Ultimately, Kemp’s vaccination status will determine when he can return to the 53-man roster. If he’s vaccinated and tests positive, he needs two negative tests taken 24 hours apart to return to action. If he’s unvaccinated and tests positive, he is required to isolate for 10 days and can return to the roster after those 10 days if he is asymptomatic. If Kemp is unvaccinated and deemed a close contact, he must isolate for five days and continue to test negative before returning to action.

Kemp hasn’t been highly involved in the offense this season with just two catches for 24 yards on the season. He has been a corp special teamer for Kansas City and one of the starting gunners on punt coverage. He has eight tackles on the year so far.

Kemp’s absence will be a blow to a special teams unit that has been a boon to the Chiefs in recent weeks. The one saving grace about Kemp’s placement on the Reserve/COVID-19 list is that it frees a roster spot on the 53-man roster. Should the Chiefs choose to activate either Clyde Edwards-Helaire from injured reserve or Kyle Long from the PUP list, they won’t need to make a corresponding roster move.

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Chiefs re-sign WR Marcus Kemp to 53-man roster

The #Chiefs have re-signed WR Marcus Kemp just as GM Brett Veach said they would.

After being released during 53-man roster cuts, a veteran receiver is back with the Kansas City Chiefs.

According to the NFL’s official transaction wire, the Chiefs have re-signed WR Marcus Kemp to the 53-man roster. The former 2017 undrafted free agent proved his value on both offense and special teams yet again this offseason, which made his release a bit of a surprise.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach spilled the beans to reporters that Kemp would be back on the active roster today, citing the move as purely procedural. As a vested veteran, Kemp was not subject to waivers, which allowed the team to not risk losing him while they sorted out other situations on the roster.

“He’ll be back,” Veach told reporters of Kemp on Wednesday. “He’ll be back. I would anticipate him being back on the active roster, and we’ll have a corresponding move at a certain time here. We have some different areas to do different things, but I’d expect it’s safe to say that Marcus Kemp will be back here and be ready to contribute, hopefully by Week 1.”

The corresponding move, at least for the time being, was Tyrann Mathieu’s placement on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. His placement on the list temporarily clears a spot for Kemp. When Mathieu returns to the 53-man roster, the Chiefs will have to make another move in order to keep Kemp around.

Kemp’s return means the Chiefs will carry six receivers on the 53-man roster for the time being. That could always change in the future, should the team face injuries and a roster crunch at another position.

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Chiefs WR Marcus Kemp looking to build on strong training camp in preseason

Marcus Kemp has had an ‘interesting journey’ with the #Chiefs, leading to a strong training camp with hopes for a stronger preseason. | from @TheJohnDillon

The Kansas City Chiefs’ receiving corps had a poor showing in Super Bowl LV, and the departure of Sammy Watkins this offseason has left the team even thinner at the position. Even with third-year wideout Mecole Hardman playing in an expanded role, Kansas City will need contributions from receivers all over the depth chart.

Andy Reid has rostered several receivers over the years that have seen little to no time in the offense, and this season could be their breakout opportunity. Marcus Kemp in particular has been buried by more established competition in previous years but looks to factor into the passing game significantly this year.

The Hawaii product, originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chiefs in 2017, spent significant time on the practice squad before tearing both his MCL and ACL in 2019. Now entering his fifth season in Kansas City, Kemp seems as motivated as ever to carve out a role for himself in the Chiefs’ offense.

“It has been an interesting journey,” Kemp told reporters Tuesday of his time in Kansas City. “I’ve been here a little bit, so I know Coach Reid’s camps and how tough they are. I’m still a young guy, but after five years with Coach Reid and his camps, you start to feel the aches and pains a little bit more. I’m comfortable in the offense and I’ve got to learn it quite a bit, so I’m just happy to be here and happy to do what I can.”

In previous years Kemp was seen as a player on the bubble during camp, but with a couple of weeks of practice under his belt, he seems confident this season will be the one he finally sticks on the 53-man roster. The 6-foot-4 receiver fits a different mold at the position than others on the Chiefs’ roster and thinks his inclusion on the final team could help everyone in the group.

“Here it’s like a family,” Kemp said of the wide receiver room. “We’re all just trying to compete to make each other better. If I do well, it makes Mecole [Hardman], D-Rob [Demarcus Robinson], and Tyreek [Hill] do better as well. So that’s what I’m hoping for is that we can all just do well.”

His team-first attitude is exactly what the offense needs as they hope to lead the charge toward another Super Bowl this season. Kemp, though, is more focused on Saturday’s preseason game, and showing he’s worth the years Kansas City has invested in him.

Kemp’s time spent on special teams in previous seasons has made him particularly useful for Dave Toub, even if his contributions in the offense have been relatively minimal. He told reporters his time in punt and kickoff coverage has been crucial for his effort to stay on the roster.

“I think it’s one of the reasons I’ve stuck around,” Kemp said of his role on special teams. “What I knew coming into the league was that (special teams) was probably my best opportunity to make the team, and I think for a lot of guys that’s true. Whatever I can do to help the Chiefs is what I want to do to stick around here.”

For Kemp, it’s all about his love of the game.

“I think it’s fun to just play football,” Kemp said, “I haven’t got a ton of reps on offense, and so these preseason games are opportunities for me to just go out and play football like I have been for 20 years at this point. So, it’s just fun to be out there, and I just hope to enjoy it. Any play can be your last play, so enjoy every play I’m out there and just have fun.”

A big-play ability and newfound physicality on the outside have made Kemp a player to watch in St. Joe. Saturday’s game will be a litmus test for his efficacy as a consistent contributor during the regular season. With a big showing, Kemp could secure his spot on the roster, and potentially become a sleeper in the Chiefs’ offense for the 2021 NFL season.

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Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub confirms starters at training camp

Special teams can make or break a player’s hopes at the 53-man roster. #Chiefs coordinator Dave Toub gave us an idea of who might make it on Friday.

Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub is thankful for a regular NFL offseason.

Last season, Toub was unable to evaluate players in the way he’d become accustomed to in 20 years as an NFL assistant. The lack of a preseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic hurt his traditional evaluation process. This year, he’s eager to get a look at all of his players on the field in the preseason.

“This is so good that we have preseason games now,” Toub told reporters on Friday. “Last year, it was horrible for us on special teams because we couldn’t evaluate. We had to release guys last year that we never really knew if they could play or not. It’s unfortunate. So, this year with the preseason games, that’s the only time that we really get to evaluate guys on teams. We don’t do anything live out here in practice, so we find out if guys can cover, if they can block, they can tackle out here during preseason games.”

While a number of young and new players will get their chance to make an impression on special teams, several positions atop the depth chart are already decided in Toub’s eyes. Starting with the kick and punt return specialists, Toub will continue using Byron Pringle on kicks and Mecole Hardman on punts.

“Yeah, we’re going to start off with the way we ended last year,” Toub explained. “I think both of those guys have improved because we had OTAs, we didn’t have that last year, and now we’re having camp and they’ve really developed on some of their weaknesses. They’re getting better seeing the ball and catching it coming forward, and I think both of them are going to take a good step forward.”

Beyond the return specialist position, Toub also named the top gunners on the punt coverage team.

“Right now it’s Marcus Kemp and (Byron) Pringle,” Toub said. “I’m trying to work BoPete Keyes into the mix. If he can step it up as a corner on defense as well as being a good gunner for us, he has a really good shot at being a player for us. So, it’s going to come down to the preseason games.”

Toub also mentioned both TE Jody Fortson and rookie DB Devon Key as players that he’s looking forward to seeing during the preseason. It’s clear that the preseason games and special teams contributions will be the deciding factor for a number of these players who are on the fringe of making the 53-man roster. A good performance there could be the difference between making the team and spending the season on the practice squad in Kansas City.

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Chiefs re-sign WR Marcus Kemp

Homegrown talent at the WR position is staying in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Chiefs are officially on the board ahead of the NFL’s 2021 free agency period, starting things off by retaining one of their own.

According to the NFL’s official transaction report, the Chiefs have re-signed WR Marcus Kemp. The 25-year-old receiver first signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL draft. He has bounced around between the Chiefs’ practice squad and the 53-man roster ever since, with a brief stint on the Miami Dolphins practice squad this past season.

Kemp has been a standout on special teams for the Chiefs throughout his career, playing the gunner position on Dave Toub’s unit. He was trending toward a larger role on offense ahead of the 2019 NFL season, as one of the standouts at training camp. Unfortunately, he suffered a significant knee injury during the preseason which ended his year prematurely.

Kemp wouldn’t re-join the Chiefs until August ahead of the 2020 NFL season after he’d completely recovered from the knee injury. He appeared in a total of 10 games last season, with the majority of his work coming on special teams. He did catch one pass for 11 yards in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos.

With players like Demarcus Robinson and Sammy Watkins set to hit free agency, signing a veteran like Kemp is a smart move. He knows the system and that will only help the roster stay competitive during the offseason. The team already lost Anthony Sherman to retirement and others could leave as free agents. Perhaps Kemp can even recapture some of the success he saw on offense ahead of his injury and carve out a larger role for himself in 2021.

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