Ex-Chiefs Red Zone Threat Headlines Early Wave of NFL Cuts: Report

Getty Former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson was released by the Miami Dolphins.

Former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson is back on the open market.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Miami Dolphins have “released” Fortson on August 25 ahead of Tuesday’s 53-man roster cutdown. The former Super Bowl champion initially signed with the Dolphins in March.

With the Chiefs, Fortson was a popular training camp and preseason standout that typically had a smaller role during the regular season as a 6-foot-4 red zone threat for Patrick Mahomes. This offseason, he was replaced by a combination of Irv Smith Jr., rookie Jared Wiley and wide receiver Justyn Ross — although the latter was already with the team in 2023.

Fortson is 28 years old and missed last year’s entire campaign with injury. He has 155 career receiving yards and 4 touchdowns off 14 receptions.

Chances of Chiefs Reunion With Jody Fortson

Fortson was a staff favorite with Kansas City, so it wouldn’t be shocking if the tight end returned on a practice squad deal. A spot on the 53-man roster feels unlikely, however, given the emergence of Wiley this summer.

The Chiefs appear pretty set at tight end at the moment, with Wiley and Noah Gray flanking future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce. Then there’s Smith, who could potentially make the roster as a fourth option for head coach Andy Reid to play around with.

Fortson would have some competition on the practice squad too, if he were to return. 6-foot-6 undrafted rookie Baylor Cupp has impressed throughout training camp and the preseason, and although there doesn’t appear to be much room for him on the 53, most assume the Chiefs will look to develop Cupp on the practice squad.

Through three preseason games, Cupp caught all three of his targets for 25 yards and a touchdown. He has also shown a willingness as a blocker — something Fortson struggled with at time throughout his KC career.

Chiefs Beat Reporters Torn on Irv Smith Jr. Surviving Roster Cutdown

As for the aforementioned Smith, he finds himself positioned squarely on the roster bubble ahead of August 27, and the KC beat appears to be torn on if the veteran pass-catcher will make the team or not.

Arrowhead Pride beat reporter Pete Sweeney added Smith to the roster in his final projection on August 23.

“I have gone back and forth on Smith throughout these projections,” Sweeney admitted to his readers. “In this final iteration, I’ve decided to include him. Excluding [running back Deneric] Prince opened up a roster spot — one that I think could go to Smith, as it allows Reid to get creative with four tight ends on the field simultaneously.”

KSHB 41’s Nick Jacobs went the opposite direction on Smith on August 22, as did Chiefs Digest beat writer Matt Derrick.

“The tight end position loses a number with the seventh receiver,” Jacobs wrote. “Smith Jr. has the ability to be on the roster, but I could see him starting the season on the practice squad until the roster settles after the return of Hollywood Brown and any additional adjustments on offense.”

Similarly, Derrick said that “Smith had a solid camp but he doesn’t necessarily bring the skillset needed by the Chiefs as a third or a fourth tight end, specifically as a blocker and a special teams player.”

Both Jacobs and Derrick highlighted Cupp as a potential practice squad prospect. The former noted that he has shown a “ton of athletic ability” that is worth developing.