Insider Blog: Chiefs Release Two Rookie Camp Participants

Kansas City’s roster continues to shift following a weekend that saw 33 rookie and first-year players complete four practice sessions over a three-day stretch. With only 78 of the NFL’s allotted amount of 80 players under contract, the Chiefs currently have room for a couple of additions before OTAs begin on May 17th (keep in mind that each of the seven draft picks remain without contracts and will count towards the allotment of 80 once they sign).

Instead of adding players, however, Kansas City released two participants from this past weekend’s rookie mini-camp: first-year WR Chandler Williams and rookie free agent TE T.C. Drake. As was the case during head coach Todd Haley’s first season as head coach, there is something to be said for being both healthy and available for practice sessions.

Williams (pictured upper right) began rookie camp as a full participant, but sat out the latter half of last weekend’s workouts with an apparent left hand/arm injury. He was a late addition to the Chiefs practice squad a year ago (December 23^rd) and signed a reserve/future deal with Kansas City on January 4^th, shortly after the regular season ended. Williams was drafted into the NFL by Minnesota in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft, but he has yet to appear in an NFL contest.

At the surface, it looks like the Chiefs made a one-for-one swap at the wide receiver position based off last weekend’s practice sessions.

On Tuesday, the Chiefs signed WR David Grimes. Grimes was originally invited to rookie mini-camp on a tryout basis. A former collegiate player under Chiefs offensive coordinator Charlie Weis at Notre Dame, Grimes originally entered the league as a rookie free agent with Denver in 2009. He was released prior to the start of training camp and did not appear on any other active rosters or practice squads last year.

Drake, a member of the Chiefs for just 11 days, was one of club’s 11 undrafted players signed in the 24 hours following the 2010 NFL Draft. He and third-round pick Tony Moeaki were the only tight ends who participated in rookie camp. Currently, the Chiefs roster four players at that seemingly wide-open position.

Kansas City now has 76 players under contract.