The Kansas City Chiefs made a significant roster move on Monday, signing defensive end Niles King while waiving undrafted rookie wide receiver Jeff Caldwell with an injury designation. With the final preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks just days away and the 53-man roster deadline looming on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, Andy Reid and his staff are grappling with tough decisions as they prepare for the 2026 season opener against Denver on September 14.
This dual transaction highlights the brutal nature of late August in the NFL. For every player who secures a roster spot, another sees their dream deferred or completely dashed. In this instance, the Chiefs are opting for defensive line depth over a promising but injured pass-catcher.
King Brings Defensive Line Reinforcement
Niles King comes to Kansas City as a former undrafted free agent who initially signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. While details about his college career and preseason performance remain somewhat scarce, the timing of his signing speaks volumes. The Chiefs are clearly prioritizing defensive line depth as they finalize their roster, and King represents an intriguing gamble on a player who has already demonstrated he can hang around an NFL roster through the summer.
After Kansas City dropped their first two preseason games—extending their preseason losing streak to eight games—the coaching staff has had ample opportunity to evaluate their current roster. Clearly, they identified a need along the defensive front that King could potentially fill, whether that’s on the active roster or the practice squad.
Caldwell’s Unfortunate Timing
Jeff Caldwell’s exit stings a bit more. The Cincinnati product had turned heads during training camp and reportedly impressed scouts at the NFL Combine before going undrafted. He was having a solid summer in St. Joseph until suffering a hyperextended left knee during practice on August 19. Just five days later, the Chiefs made the tough decision to move on.
Since Caldwell was waived with an injury designation, he’ll first pass through waivers, allowing the other 31 teams a chance to claim him. If he clears waivers unclaimed, he’ll revert to Kansas City’s injured reserve list. From there, the Chiefs could either keep him on IR for the entire season or reach an injury settlement that would let him hit free agency once healthy.
For a team that lost key offensive weapons to free agency this offseason and desperately needs young receivers to step up, watching a camp standout go down with injury is a tough pill to swallow. But with only 53 roster spots available and the regular season fast approaching, Reid can’t afford to carry injured players who won’t contribute in September.
The Bigger Picture
This move is just the latest in a series of roster shake-ups as the Chiefs navigate the final week of the preseason. Just last week, Kansas City waived offensive tackle Matt Waletzko with an injury designation and signed offensive tackle Kellen Diesch and linebacker Cam Jones. It’s the annual roster churn that every NFL team experiences, but it’s particularly critical for a Chiefs squad aiming to defend their championship aspirations.
With one preseason game remaining—a Friday night matchup against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks—the Chiefs have 72 hours to evaluate their roster before making final cuts. Bubble players will be battling for their professional lives under the Arrowhead Stadium lights, fully aware that every snap could be the difference between making the team or hitting the unemployment line.
For Chiefs Kingdom, the Caldwell news is disappointing but not catastrophic. The King signing indicates that the front office is being proactive about addressing depth concerns rather than reactive. With the regular season just three weeks away, that kind of strategic thinking is exactly what championship organizations do.