The Chiefs placed linebacker Cooper McDonald on injured reserve after he suffered a knee injury in the season opener, sidelining him for at least four games.
The Kansas City Chiefs will be without one of their starting linebackers for at least the next four games.
Kansas City placed linebacker Cooper McDonald on injured reserve Wednesday after he suffered a knee injury during Monday night's 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.
McDonald was injured on the kickoff following Kansas City's first touchdown and did not return. The move to injured reserve means he will miss at least four games.
That takes McDonald out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, road matchups against the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders, and Kansas City's Week 6 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs have a bye in Week 5.
The loss comes after McDonald earned the starting SAM linebacker job entering his second NFL season.
The Chiefs signed McDonald as an undrafted free agent in 2025 after he played collegiately at Washington, San Diego State and TCU. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games as a rookie, making one start, and became a larger part of Kansas City's defense entering 2026.
His absence creates another question for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's linebacker rotation.
Nick Bolton indicated Wednesday that Jack Cochrane is likely to step into McDonald's role. Bolton noted that Cochrane has played every linebacker position in Kansas City's defense and expressed “full confidence” in him.
Kansas City also used the open roster spot created by McDonald's move to injured reserve to promote a familiar face.
The Chiefs signed fullback Ben VanSumeren to the 53-man roster after elevating him from the practice squad for Monday's opener.
VanSumeren played extensively on special teams against Denver after becoming the first pure fullback to appear for Kansas City since Michael Burton in 2022.
The 6-foot-2, 258-pound VanSumeren began his professional career as a linebacker before transitioning to fullback. He previously spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills before joining Kansas City.
His promotion gives the Chiefs a permanent fullback on the active roster after initially using one of their two game-day practice-squad elevations on him Monday.
Kansas City made several additional changes to its practice squad Wednesday.
The Chiefs re-signed cornerback Melvin Smith Jr. and added defensive end Michael Heldman, who recorded 10.5 sacks during his final college season at Central Michigan. Safety Tanner McCalister was released from the practice squad to make room.
The moves leave Kansas City with a reshuffled roster as it prepares for its second game in six days.
McDonald's absence will last considerably longer.
With McDonald required to miss at least four games despite Kansas City's Week 5 bye, the Chiefs will need another answer at SAM while their second-year linebacker recovers.
