Chiefs Reward Emerging Rookie After Devastating Injury News
Posted October 22, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs revealed a 53-man roster move ahead of Week 8, following the Omarr Norman-Lott injury news on October 20.
“We have placed DT Omarr Norman-Lott on Reserve/Injured. We have signed Practice Squad player CB Kevin Knowles to an active roster contract,” the Chiefs announced on October 21.
We have placed DT Omarr Norman-Lott on Reserve/Injured.
We have signed Practice Squad player CB Kevin Knowles to an active roster contract.
Knowles, 22, is an undrafted rookie who emerged throughout the spring and summer, only to earn three immediate practice squad elevations from Week 2 through Week 4.
Although Knowles is a cornerback and nickel DB by trade, the rookie has done well to impress special teams coordinator Dave Toub. For that reason, 100% of his NFL snaps so far have come on special teams.
Within an organization like Kansas City’s, that show of trust can reveal a great deal. Not only does Knowles provide energy and juice, but he’s also likely a very intelligent, hard-working, and polished youngster if he’s caught the eye of Toub and head coach Andy Reid this early.
Omarr Norman-Lott’s Rookie Season Is Over as Chiefs Make IR News Official
There is no sugarcoating it, losing Norman-Lott to a torn ACL hurts. The Chiefs’ interior defensive line depth was very thin going into draft season earlier this spring.
Then, KC revealed their master plan, spending a second-round selection on the Tennessee product. And Norman-Lott lived up to the hype throughout training camp and the early season.
Despite only registering 1.0 sack and 1 tackle for a loss over his first 5 games, Norman-Lott plugged a hole on the Chiefs’ D-line, and he had been doing his job well for a rookie. The hope was that he’d continue to develop as the season progressed, eventually turning into Chris Jones’ right-hand man on the interior.
Now that development will be halted for the remainder of this season, and potentially, most of next year’s spring and summer program.
In the meantime, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach must also replace Norman-Lott, which he has yet to do.
Chiefs Beat Reporter Calls for ‘Reinforcements’ Ahead of Week 8
Yesterday, on October 20, Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick posted a call to action after hearing the Norman-Lott news.
“[The] Chiefs need reinforcements on the interior,” Derrick proclaimed on X, and he’s not wrong.
As noted above, Veach must add some more defensive tackle help in the coming weeks. The first roster move after Norman-Lott’s injury, Knowles’ promotion, ignores this need. But the Chiefs likely have another transaction or two up their sleeve.
Kansas City only has Jones, Derrick Nnadi and Jerry Tillery left on the active roster at D-tackle, although Mike Danna and Malik Herring can help out inside in certain situations.
They also have DTs Zacch Pickens, Brodric Martin and Marlon Tuipulotu on the practice squad. And you can expect that one or two of them will be elevated for Week 8, assuming no one else is signed to the active roster between now and Monday night.
Of the three, Martin has already been elevated once in 2025 (but did not appear in the game), and Tuipulotu has been elevated twice. That means Tuipulotu can only be elevated one more time before he must join Knowles on the 53-man roster.
Lattimore Experiment Fails Washington Must Buy Cornerback Immediately
Marshon Lattimore is taking heat from all angles.
The Washington Commanders have been heavily involved in trade activity over the last year. Adam Peters determined that this team was ahead of schedule, and he responded aggressively with several bold transactions that shook the NFL to its foundations.
That puts the general manager in a tricky spot right now. Things are not going well for the Commanders. Injuries haven't helped, but they are 3-4 regardless. They also have a challenging series of games upcoming that could plunge them further behind in their quest for playoff football once again.
Peters could stand pat with what he has. He could consider offloading assets if Washington's losing streak continues before the 2025 trade deadline. The front-office leader might also push his chips into the middle with another move to give his team a fighting chance of being more competitive.
NFL analyst urges Commanders to explore trade for Jets CB Michael Carter II
Jack McKessy from USA Today had something in mind. The analyst urged the Commanders to consider exploring a trade for New York Jets slot cornerback Michael Carter II. This would enable Joe Whitt Jr. to move Mike Sainristil back outside and struggling veteran Marshon Lattimore to the fringes.
"The Commanders, now below .500 after a Week 7 loss to the Cowboys, can't keep things the way they are in the secondary. [Michael] Carter is a slot-only cornerback that can take on that nickel role for Washington and let [Mike] Sainristil kick back outside. That would allow the second-year player to return to a spot where he performed better over the back half of last season. Meanwhile, the Commanders could avoid trotting out [Marshon] Lattimore to keep getting burned on the outside. [Trey] Amos could start in the other outside spot, opposite Sainristil, and continue developing as an outside corner."
Jack McKessy
The Jets are going through some significant complications. They are winless through seven games, and owner Woody Johnson threw quarterback Justin Fields under the bus with brutal comments after their dismal loss to the Carolina Panthers. Speculation is rising around potential trade departures. Calls are reportedly being made to gauge who might be available if the price is right.
Carter is one of the few who are playing to the level expected in New York. He has two more years remaining on his deal after 2025, with $12.25 million counting against the cap in both years. Although the former Duke standout is an accomplished performer, it seems unlikely.
John Keim from ESPN revealed that the Commanders have no plans to bench Lattimore. They still believe he can be a massive asset. However, his performances suggest otherwise. Washington has invested heavily in its secondary, so any further investment could jeopardize the team's ability to strengthen other areas.
If the Commanders are going to make a move, which is highly debatable, an edge rusher might be the best way to go. Either way, Lattimore needs to raise confidence through consistency, or his status heading into the final year of his deal in 2026 will be in severe doubt.
