On Tuesday, we learned that the Kansas City Chiefs are adding to the depth at the linebacker position with the addition of rookie Aiden Fisher to the practice squad. However, he wasn’t the only reserve linebacker to enter the mix at Chiefs practice.
Second-year linebacker Cooper McDonald was designated to return to practice after spending Weeks 2-6 on the Reserve/Injured list; the team will still need to activate him to the 53-man roster before he can return to the field and has a 21-day window to do so.
The Chiefs waived backup linebacker Cam Jones, who has been on and off the team in recent seasons, on Tuesday. The team also terminated the practice-squad contract of running back Nate Carter.
McDonald played just two snaps against the Denver Broncos in Week 1 — both on special teams — but he did record one tackle in his brief time on the field this season.
Last year, after making the team as a rookie minicamp tryout out of TCU, McDonald played the third most special teams snaps with the Chiefs. In the final two games of the season, he saw more defensive snaps and totaled 10 tackles (1 for loss) in 47 snaps in Weeks 17 and 18. He made his first career start in the season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Entering this season, after 25 tackles as a rookie, McDonald was tabbed as the starting SAM linebacker in the base defense, a role that former Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal excelled at.
It remains to be seen whether the 6-foot-3-inch, 240-pound linebacker will return to that role in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system, taking over from veteran Jack Cochrane, but Chiefs Kingdom can expect No. 44 to fly down the field on special teams whenever he’s ready to play.