Photo by Dave Kaup/Getty Images The Kansas City Chiefs are saying goodbye to an Arrowhead Stadium fan-favorite in 2021.
The Kansas City Chiefs have begun shaving down their roster ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline, removing the required five players from their active roster.
The Chiefs have waived/injured tight end Evan Baylis and wide receiver Antonio Callaway, waived defensive back Manny Patterson, released wide receiver Chad Williams, and placed running back Elijah McGuire on injured reserve, per the team.
We have waived/injured the following players:
TE Evan Baylis
WR Antonio Callaway
We have waived DB Manny Patterson.
We released WR Chad Williams.
We placed RB Elijah McGuire on Injured Reserve.
ALL the latest Chiefs news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Chiefs newsletter here!
Callaway Headlines Roster Cuts
The most notable name among the first wave of preseason cuts for Kansas City is Callaway. As a 2018 fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, Callaway was a Hard Knocks star that summer when the HBO series made its way to Cleveland, but for the wrong reasons. After being suspended during his final year at Florida, Callaway tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine, per ESPN, and then was cited for marijuana possession and a suspended license that summer by police.
He showed a lot of promise during his rookie season, however, accumulating 43 receptions for 586 yards and five touchdowns. But Hard Knocks stardom didn’t last very long for the Florida product, as multiple failed drugs tests stunted his ability to stay on an NFL field from 2018-20.
Callaway was signed by the Chiefs to a reserve/future contract in January, per Pro Sports Reference, but wasn’t able to show enough this summer to remain on Kansas City’s roster. He did not suit up for Kansas City’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Baylis, 27, has been in the NFL since 2017 and has played for the Texans, Colts, Panthers, Packers, Cardinals, and Chiefs since entering the league, per Pro Sports Reference. He has played a total of 171 snaps in his career, 100 of which were on special teams and 71 on offense. He hasn’t recorded a single catch yet in his NFL career.
Patterson, 23, is a product of the University of Maine and went undrafted this year. He recorded one specials teams tackle during Kansas City’s 19-13 win over the 49ers in Week 1 of the preseason.
Williams was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played two seasons for Arizona and one for Indianapolis, recording 20 receptions for 202 yards and one touchdown during that time span, per Pro Sports Reference. He played a total of 14 snaps in the Chiefs’ preseason opener, per PFF, and caught one pass for three yards.
McGuire was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s been the most productive player mentioned here during his NFL career, rushing for a total of 180 times for 591 yards and four touchdowns from 2017-18 in New York. He was on the practice squad of the Browns, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Dolphins before signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs in March, per Pro Sports Reference. McGuire injured his ankle during the Chiefs’ preseason opener, which is likely the reason why he landed on injured reserve.
When is Next Round of Cuts?
Now that the active roster has been cut down to 85 players, the Chiefs, along with the rest of the league, have until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 24 to shave their rosters down to 80 players. After that, all NFL teams will have until Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 4 p.m. to bring their roster down to 53 players, according to Sporting News.
Kansas City has another preseason game — this one against the Arizona Cardinals Friday night — before they have to cut more players.