The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up training camp in St. Joseph on Thursday with more bad news on the injury front. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed that defensive end Ashton Gillotte suffered a ruptured plantar fascia during Tuesday’s practice and will miss Saturday’s preseason game against Tampa Bay.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the second-year pass rusher. Gillotte had just worked his way back from a hamstring issue that cost him practice time earlier in camp, only to go down with this new injury. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, and when it ruptures, the recovery timeline becomes uncertain.
What This Means for Gillotte’s Season
While Reid indicated the Chiefs aren’t viewing this as a long-term problem, the reality of a ruptured plantar fascia is more complicated. If it’s a partial tear, Gillotte could miss the next three weeks of preseason and practice work leading up to the regular season opener against Denver on September 14. That best-case scenario would have him potentially ready for a rotational role by Week 1, though a short-term IR stint remains possible.
A full rupture could sideline him until early November if surgery is required. For a team that’s counting on depth along the defensive line to help chase another championship, losing Gillotte for any significant stretch hurts the rotation and limits defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s options in pass-rushing packages.
Injury List Continues to Grow
Gillotte isn’t the only Chief dealing with injury concerns as the team prepares for Tampa Bay. Reid announced that offensive tackle Josh Simmons is out with a back injury, while right guard Trey Smith won’t play due to a hip issue. Wide receiver Jeff Caldwell hyperextended his knee and will also sit out Saturday’s game.
The silver lining? Linebacker Jack Cochrane and wide receiver Jeff Weimer returned to practice Thursday after missing time with knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a knee issue.
Chiefs Add Offensive Line Depth
In a corresponding roster move Thursday, Kansas City signed offensive tackle Kellen Diesch, a UFL champion who helped the Louisville Kings win the 2026 spring football title. To make room for Diesch, the Chiefs waived offensive tackle Matt Waletzko with an injury designation.
Adding Diesch makes sense given the uncertainty surrounding the offensive line’s health. With Simmons and Smith banged up, having extra bodies who can compete for roster spots becomes crucial as cutdown day approaches.
Looking Ahead
The Chiefs head to Tampa Bay for Saturday’s preseason game with Justin Fields set to start at quarterback and play into the second quarter. Patrick Mahomes remains on schedule to return for the regular season opener after recovering from last December’s torn ACL and LCL, but the team is wisely keeping him on the sideline during exhibition games.
As for Gillotte, Chiefs Kingdom will be watching closely for updates on the severity of his plantar fascia rupture. This defensive line needs all the depth it can get, especially after losing key contributors from last year’s roster. The hope is that Gillotte can rehab quickly and be ready to contribute when games start to matter in September.