Meet the Chiefs’ initial practice squad for the 2024 season

As they prepare to host the Baltimore Ravens on September 5 to kick off the NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs have announced 16 players signed to their initial practice squad.

Practice squads were increased to 16 players during the pandemic, and that appears to be a permanent change. Teams can also sign six players with an unlimited number of accrued professional seasons.

Like last season, teams will be allowed to elevate up to two players to their gameday rosters (up to three times for an individual player in the regular season) without the risk of a waiver claim. Clubs retain the ability to protect up to four players from being signed to other 53-man rosters. The Chiefs have used this ability sparingly — generally, when there have been multiple injuries in a position group.

Read on to find out more about these players — and why the Chiefs can actually have a 17th player on this year's practice squad.

Emani Bailey • RB • 5-7• 202 pounds

Bailey joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent this spring after spending his college days at Louisiana and TCU. In his final season with the Horned Frogs, the Denton, Texas native totaled 1393 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns. Bailey gained 29 yards on eight rushing attempts during the Chiefs' preseason.

Swayzee Bozeman • LB • 6-1 • 224 pounds

An undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, Bozeman played in all three preseason games and was in on 14 tackles. The 25-year-old spent five seasons with the Golden Eagles, finishing with 189 tackles and seven sacks.

Deon Bush • DB • 6-0 • 200 pounds

Bush has been a part of the two recent Super Bowl run after six seasons with the Chicago Bears. While he spent most of last season on the practice squad, his presence was felt after he was promoted late in the season. During the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game, Bush delivered a key interception off of quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Cole Christiansen • LB • 6-1 • 230 pounds

Christiansen has been on and off the Chiefs' active roster and practice squad over the past two seasons. Injuries saw him activated for three of Kansas City's playoff games last season. Christiansen was in on 70% of the Chiefs' special teams snaps in both the AFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl.

Baylor Cupp • TE • 6-6 • 243 pounds

An alumnus of Texas Tech, Cupp caught 11 passes for 114 yards with a pair of touchdowns for the Red Raiders last season before signing with Kansas City after the draft. Cupp recorded a ten-yard touchdown reception in the Chiefs' final preseason game against the Bears.

Matt Dickerson • DT • 6-5 • 298 pounds

Dickerson has attended training camp with the Chiefs for the past three seasons. After being waived on 2022's cutdown day, he was claimed by the Atlanta Falcons. Dickerson rejoined the Chiefs the following May and was listed on and off last season's roster. He appeared in 12 games for the 2023 Chiefs, totaling 12 tackles.

Neil Farrell • DT • 6-4 • 325 pounds

Farrell played in nine games as a rookie with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. The Raiders then traded their former fourth-round selection to the Chiefs at last season's roster cutdown. Farrell only played in three regular-season games with the Chiefs in 2023, but he was active for the final two playoff rounds, recording a tackle on 16 defensive snaps in the Super Bowl.

Chuckwuebuka Godrick • T • 6-5 • 293 pounds

Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, Godrick has been with the Chiefs since 2022 as the team's international pathway player. The Chiefs will again receive a practice squad exemption for Godrick — allowing them to sign a 17th player to the unit. During his second preseason with the team, Godrick played 117 offensive snaps.

Keaontay Ingram • RB • 6-0 • 220 pounds

The Arizona Cardinals selected Ingram from USC in the sixth round in 2022. In sparing NFL action, he has rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown while adding eight receptions for 47 yards. Ingram joined the Chiefs' practice squad late last season. In the preseason finale, he rushed four times for 26 yards.

Truman Jones • DE • 6-3 • 250 pounds

In his second camp and preseason with Kansas City, Jones appeared to be making a case for the roster. The former Harvard pass rusher had a particularly impressive showing against the Lions in the second preseason game, where he delivered a sack. However, with the Chiefs recently reinforcing the position, Jones will spend another season on the practice squad.

Fabian Lovett • DT • 6-3 • 316 pounds

Lovett split his college career between Mississippi State and Florida State. He was credited with four tackles-for-loss in his final season with the Seminoles. He saw 56 defensive snaps with the Chiefs this preseason.

Lucas Niang • OT • 6-6 • 315 pounds

The Chiefs drafted Niang out of TCU in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he has struggled with availability. After opting out of his rookie season via the league's COVID protocols, he started nine games in 2021. Unfortunately, he suffered a major knee injury late in the season that would ultimately cost him much of 2022. Niang appeared in 14 games, though with no starts, for the Chiefs last season.

Nikko Remigio • WR • 5-9 • 187 pounds

Remigio has created buzz in the last two training camps after signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in 2023. Remigio played in all three exhibitions this month after seeing his first preseason in Kansas City truncated by injury. He showed particular prowess in the return game, taking four kickoffs for a combined 133 yards while adding a 42-yard punt return.

Justyn Ross • WR • 6-4 • 210 pounds

Ross looked like a future star in the 2018 College Football Playoff while with Clemson, combining for 301 receiving yards and three touchdowns over two games. Unfortunately, back and foot injuries plagued the remainder of his college career. Ross went undrafted due to medical concerns and signed with the Chiefs in 2022. His time in Kansas City, however, has been plagued by more injuries and an off-the-field incident. For the Chiefs, Ross has six career receptions for 53 yards.

Keith Taylor • CB • 6-3 • 195 pounds

Taylor appeared in 34 games with the Carolina Panthers from 2021-22. After the Panthers parted with their former fifth-round selection last season, he joined the Chiefs' practice squad. Taylor played 133 defensive snaps this preseason. He recorded an interception against Detroit.

Montrell Washington • WR • 5-10 • 170 pounds

A former fifth-round pick of the Denver Broncos, Washington joined the Chiefs' practice squad last season. He was elevated to the active roster for a time. In six games, he returned eight punts for a total of 61 yards while adding a 20-yard kickoff return. Washington recorded a 49-yard reception in the Chiefs' exhibition finale against Chicago.

Because Godrick will play with an exemption, the Chiefs actually currently have an open spot on their practice squad. That opening will reportedly go to former New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe, who has not officially joined the team as of Wednesday.

While a larger practice squad and elevation rules have allowed for veteran depth and player development that was previously not possible, the unit's primary purpose remains assembling scout teams that resemble upcoming opponents.

Players are added and dropped from the practice squad frequently as practice needs change. While no members of the 2023 initial practice squad made this season's opening roster, seven of the names remain the same, offering hope that we may hear more from some of these players in the future.