As training camp begins in St. Joseph, Missouri, the Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly placed four players on its physically unable to perform (PUP) list. According to the NFL’s transactions wire, the team placed wide receiver Justyn Ross (foot), cornerback Rashad Fenton (shoulder), and offensive tackles Lucas Niang (knee) and Prince Tega Wanogho (leg) on the PUP list.
The first three players were already common knowledge. Earlier this offseason, the team reported that Fenton had undergone shoulder surgery and is still undergoing rehab. Lucas Niang also underwent surgery to correct a torn patellar tendon he suffered late last season. Meanwhile, undrafted rookie wide receiver Justyn Ross was seen earlier this month in a boot after reportedly having surgery on his foot.
Head coach Andy Reid’s first media session on Friday (7/22), when quarterbacks and rookies first reported to camp, was only a reiteration that those players were still recovering and would not be practicing.
“Rashad Fenton had shoulder surgery, and Lucas Niang had knee surgery,” said Reid. “These guys will be up here, but they won’t be practicing. And then Justyn Ross had foot surgery, so he won’t be practicing, either. Everyone else is good to go; everybody else is back and rolling. So we’re in good shape.”
Following Saturday’s practice, Reid told reporters that Tega Wanogho was working with team trainers on a ‘leg issue’. He did not get any more specific than that or give any information on where/how the third-year tackle sustained the injury or if it was severe or not.
The Chiefs placed all four players on the Active/PUP list, meaning they will still count towards the team’s 90-man roster and can still work with trainers at team facilities and attend team meetings. The players are also allowed to resume practice soon as they are medically cleared.
Per NFL rules, if a player remains on the Active/PUP list by the final cutdown day in late August, that player must be medically cleared to make the active roster, released, placed on the in-season Reserve/PUP list (where they must stay for the first six weeks of the regular season), or placed on the Reserve/Injured list.
The NFL transaction report also says the Chiefs released wide receiver Matthew Sexton. Sexton originally signed a futures/reserve contract with Kansas City in January but was waived with an injury designation in June. After clearing waivers, the Chiefs placed Sexton on its Reserve/Injury list. On Friday, the team waived Sexton again, clearing the waive process once more. This time, the Chiefs terminated his contract.
Kansas City currently has 90 players on its training camp roster.
