KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have set their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season following Sunday's NFL roster cutdown deadline.
Kansas City kept 26 players on offense, 24 on defense and three specialists. The roster could still change before the Chiefs open the regular season.
Patrick Mahomes leads a three-quarterback group that also includes Justin Fields and rookie Garrett Nussmeier. Chris Oladokun was among the players released.
The Chiefs kept Kenneth Walker, Brashard Smith and Emmett Johnson at running back, while Emari Demercado did not make the initial roster.
Kansas City will carry six wide receivers: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Cyrus Allen, Jalen Royals and Nikko Remigio. Andrew Armstrong was among the notable cuts at the position.
Travis Kelce and Noah Gray headline a four-man tight end room alongside Jared Wiley and Jake Briningstool.
Kansas City kept 10 offensive linemen. The projected starting group consists of left tackle Joshua Simmons, left guard Kingsley Suamataia, center Creed Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith and right tackle Jaylon Moore.
Kahlil Benson, Hunter Nourzad, Mike Caliendo, Joshua Ezeudu and Diego Pounds round out the offensive line. Ezeudu was acquired from the New York Giants earlier in the week.
Defensively, Chris Jones leads a four-player defensive tackle group that also includes Khyiris Tonga, rookie Peter Woods and Marcus Harris. Omarr Norman-Lott will begin the season on the physically unable to perform list.
The Chiefs kept four defensive ends in George Karlaftis, Ashton Gillotte, Felix Anudike-Uzomah and R Mason Thomas. Veteran Emmanuel Ogbah did not make the initial roster.
Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill lead the linebacker group, joined by Jeffrey Bassa, Cooper McDonald and Jack Cochrane. Cole Christiansen and Cam Jones were among the cuts.
Kansas City kept six cornerbacks: Mansoor Delane, Nohl Williams, L'Jarius Sneed, Jadon Canady, Kristian Fulton and Kevin Knowles. Kader Kohou was released.
The Chiefs will carry five safeties in Alohi Gilman, Chamarri Conner, Christian Roland-Wallace, Jaden Hicks and Xavier Nwankpa. DeShon Singleton did not make the roster.
Kansas City's specialists remain unchanged with Harrison Butker at kicker, Matt Araiza at punter and James Winchester at long snapper.
Wide receivers Jeff Caldwell and Jimmy Holiday, tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, defensive end Ethan Downs and offensive lineman Matt Waletzko are on reserve/injured and do not count toward the active roster.