Kansas City Chiefs rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane was a midweek downgrade in practice this week as he continues to manage a preseason shoulder injury.
Although Delane is listed as questionable on Friday’s final injury report for Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, Kansas City updated his status to out on Saturday before leaving for the road tournament.
Delane previously sat out the Chiefs’ home opener against Denver with an injury and ultimately did not play in Week 2 despite being active.
The Chiefs also made it clear that rookie pass rusher R Mason Thomas — listed as questionable after missing Friday’s practice for personal reasons — will travel separately from the team to Denver. Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest The designation is expected to be lifted once Thomas arrives in Denver.
Delane’s impending absence, however, wasn’t the only news Saturday for Kansas City’s secondary. The team placed veteran cornerback L’Jarius Sneed — listed as questionable in consecutive weeks with recurring knee pain — on the Reserve/Injured (IR) list. After playing 63% of the defensive snaps in his second stint in Kansas City, Sneed will be sidelined for at least four games.
Replacing him on the active roster will be cornerback Melvin Smith. Smith joined Kansas City in 2025 as an undrafted free agent from small school Southern Arkansas. He was signed to the Chiefs’ active roster late last season but has yet to appear in a game.
Smith was waived in the final roster cuts in August. The Tennessee Titans actually claimed him the next day — and saw him waived again before Week 1. Smith rejoined Kansas City’s practice squad on September 16.
Presumably as an insurance policy for Thomas, the Chiefs used a practice squad elevation on defensive end Tyreke Smith. Smith was previously brought up for Kansas City’s Week 3 contest against the Miami Dolphins, but was only declared inactive for the contest. He will have another permissible elevation.