Roster cutdowns in the NFL are a somber day for many players. But for players like Kansas City Chiefs undrafted rookie safety Chris Roland-Wallace, it will be a day of celebration. Roland-Wallace made Kansas City’s initial 53-player roster, according to Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest on August 27.
Roland-Wallace, 22, spent four seasons at Arizona and played his final year of collegiate ball at USC before entering the NFL this offseason. The noteworthy part of CRW’s game is the fact that he played cornerback in college before the Chiefs had him switch to safety.
During the preseason, Roland-Wallace lined up primarily in the slot and allowed 6 catches on 8 targets for 64 yards, according to PFF. He also had 11 tackles, 2 stops, and 1 QB pressure.
With Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, and rookie Jaden Hicks being locked into the 53-player roster, that left one roster spot for CRW, Deon Bush, Tyree Gillespie, and DJ Miller to compete over. Though his preseason stats don’t jump off of the page, Roland-Wallace did enough to convince the coaching staff he belongs on the regular-season roster instead of potentially stashing him on the practice squad.
Chiefs Make Decision on Charles Omenihu: Report
Chiefs veteran defensive end Charles Omenihu, who has been rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered during the AFC Championship in January, will begin the regular season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on August 27.
There are “hopes” that Omenihu will return in November, per Rapoport.
During the 2023 season, Omenihu registered 29 total quarterback pressures (17 hurries, 7, sacks, 5 hits), 13 stops, and 2 forced fumbles in 11 regular season games, per PFF. In three playoff games, he recorded 8 total QB pressures (7 hurries, 1 sack), 1 stop, and 1 forced fumble.
As a player who can play in any role along the defensive line, Omenihu’s return can’t come soon enough for a Chiefs squad that is looking to make NFL history by winning three straight championships.
X users reacted to the update on Omenihu.
“Could be a huge boost as the season finishes out. Chiefs always get better as the season goes on,” one person wrote.
“Yeah they need him back that dude was good on that defense praying for a speedy recovery god bless,” another person wrote.
“Chiefs getting an early to mid-season boost then,” another person wrote. “@charless_94 needs to get to 100% and if/when he does, he makes that dline even scarier. That DL has me very optimistic!”
“Him & BJ [Thompson] (potentially) coming back late in the season to take some snaps & help preserve some of the pass rushers that took a heavy snap count early in the season could be big,” another person wrote.
‘Optimism’ That BJ Thompson Will Play This Season: Report
According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero on August 27, linebacker BJ Thompson will begin the regular season on the non-football illness list.
“He’ll miss the first four games, but there is optimism he’ll play this season,” Pelissero wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Thompson, a fifth-round pick of the Chiefs in 2023, suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting in June.
Once Thompson is sidelined for a mandatory four games he will then have four more weeks to begin practicing and prove that he should be activated.
