Chiefs rookie tight end Jake Briningstool suffers setback in roster push

Two undrafted free agent tight ends were fortunate enough to earn a roster spot on the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason. They switched places on the fifth day of training camp, as Tre Watson returned from the Physically Unable to Play list and Jake Briningstool sat out of practice due to injury.

The Chiefs welcomed back a couple of players from the PUP list in St. Joseph on Sunday in the form of Watson and right tackle Jawaan Taylor. However, Briningstool came out with a sleeve on his leg as he dealt with a hamstring injury.

Jake Briningstool joins the ranks of Chiefs injured players in training camp.

The Chiefs have stayed relatively healthy this offseason, as other teams continue to deal with major injuries shortly into training camp. Briningstool is the first new injury that has limited another player outside of those who began the year on the PUP list. Cornerback Kristian Fulton is the only player remaining on that list, as expected.

Briningstool was a heralded rookie free agent signing following the 2025 NFL Draft as a highly productive tight end from Clemson. Briningstool caught 127 passes for 1,380 yards and 17 touchdowns in his career with the Tigers and set a school record for the most catches by a tight end in school history. He also holds the school record for most receiving yards (126) in a single game by a tight end.

The Chiefs overlooked the position of tight end in this year's draft class despite starter Travis Kelce's flirtation with retirement shortly after Super Bowl LIX. The team has Noah Gray for the next two season as a reliable pass-catching option at No. 2 overall. Former fourth-round selection Jared Wiley is the most recent draft investment at the position, but he missed most of his rookie season with an injury in 2024.

It's important for any rookie free agent to be as available as possible to potentially land a spot on an active roster, but Briningstool has buzz on his side and a solid opportunity given the Chiefs' depth chart at tight end.