Palko Gets Called Up

For 12 games the Chiefs went into battle with just two active quarterbacks. Going forward, the Chiefs will carry three.

After spending 13 weeks on Kansas City’s practice squad, Tyler Palko was called up to the club’s 53-man roster on Wednesday morning. Palko served as the Chiefs third quarterback during the preseason before the team decided to carry just two QBs following training camp.

"This is the direction we've decided to go," Haley said at the time. “It's not without risk, but neither are any of the other decisions we've made and are going to have to make. You just try to make the best one for your football team."

While the Chiefs have carried two quarterbacks, only Matt Cassel has received snaps. Backup Brodie Croyle has been active for all 12 games this season, but has yet to play.

To complete the roster move, the Chiefs placed CB Jackie Bates on injured reserve with a knee injury. Bates was injured in the second half of Kansas City’s win over Seattle two Sunday’s ago while making his first career start in place of an injured Brandon Flowers. Veteran CB Mike Richardson was added to the roster last week to provide depth in the secondary.

To fill Palko’s space on the practice squad, the Chiefs signed LB Micah Johnson. A rookie free agent out of Kentucky, Johnson was originally signed by N.Y. Giants, but attended the 2010 training camp with the Dolphins. Johnson played in Miami’s season opener against Buffalo before heading to the Dolphins practice squad. He was released from the Dolphins practice squad on December 1^st.