Chiefs Waive WR Jeff Caldwell with Injury Designation, Sign DE Niles King

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Chiefs Waive WR Jeff Caldwell with Injury Designation, Sign DE Niles King

Rodney Knuppel

Mon, Aug 24, 2026 ·

3 min read

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The Kansas City Chiefs made another notable roster move Monday as Andy Reid and company continue shaping the team ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Kansas City announced it waived rookie wide receiver Jeff Caldwell with an injury designation while signing free-agent defensive end Niles King. The decision comes only days after Caldwell suffered a left leg injury during practice on Aug. 19, putting an unfortunate end to what had been an intriguing summer for the undrafted rookie. With the NFL's final roster cutdown approaching, the Chiefs elected to move on from Caldwell for now while using the open spot to add another defensive option.

"We have signed Free Agent DE Niles King," the Chiefs announced Monday on X . "We have waived WR Jeff Caldwell with an injury designation."

Chiefs Make Decision on Jeff Caldwell

Caldwell had been fighting for a spot in a competitive Kansas City receiving corps after signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-5, 216-pound receiver brought an intriguing combination of size and speed after running a 4.31-second 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process.

His chances of making the roster took a hit during practice Aug. 19.

Chiefs Digest reporter Matt Derrick reported Caldwell went to the medical tent after taking a hit on the final play of a team period. Derrick noted Caldwell appeared to be in significant discomfort and was putting limited weight on his left leg before leaving for further evaluation.

Kansas City's Monday announcement confirmed the injury was significant enough to impact Caldwell's roster status.

Because Caldwell was waived with an injury designation, another NFL team will have the opportunity to claim him. If he clears waivers, he would revert to the Chiefs' injured reserve list.

Chiefs Add Niles King Ahead of Final Cuts

Kansas City immediately used Caldwell's roster spot to add King, an undrafted rookie defensive end out of San Diego State.

King previously signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after the 2026 NFL Draft before being released. He recorded 30 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks during his final college season.

The timing gives King a narrow opportunity to impress Reid and the coaching staff before Kansas City finalizes its initial 53-man roster.

For Caldwell, Monday's move represents an unfortunate interruption after he generated some buzz during his first NFL training camp.

For the Chiefs, it is another reminder that roster construction remains fluid all the way through the final days of the preseason.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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