The Kansas City Chiefs battled plenty of adversity throughout the first month of the 2025 NFL season. Head coach Andy Reid & Co. were without several players at various times throughout the campaign's first four contests, whether it was because of Rashee Rice's six-game suspension or Xavier Worthy's shoulder injury.
Worthy returned to action on Sunday, while Rice won't be eligible to return for another two games. Still, the Chiefs could be getting other reinforcements in the coming days now that players who began the season on the Physically Unable to Perform, Non-Football Injury, or Injured Reserve (designated to return) lists can return in Week 5
Here's a look at three Chiefs who are eligible to return to practice ahead of next Monday's clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Chiefs Could Get Some Reinforcements in Week 5
Nazeeh Johnson, CB
Nazeeh Johnson is the biggest name potentially returning after hurting his shoulder in the second preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Now, the fourth-year pro could not only bolster an already stacked cornerback room, but a strong performance could turn him into another trade asset before November.
Johnson was always expected to be a starter, but his shortcomings are well-documented at this point. Now that Nohl Williams has stepped up in his absence, perhaps that could mean the end of the line for Josh Williams, who's been demoted to special team duties in the first month of the regular season. The often-injured Kristian Fulton could also be a trade candidate if the Chiefs would rather retain Johnson instead of him.
Jake Briningstool, TE
Jake Briningstool is no Travis Kelce, but he turned plenty of heads in the early stages of organized team activities and training camp. A hamstring injury kept him on the shelf for most of the preseason, and he tried to rush his way back to the field ahead of the final exhibition contest.
Kelce and Noah Gray will obviously handle the bulk of the work, but given how high the Chiefs were on Briningstool, they could part ways with Jared Wiley or Robert Tonyan to make room for the undrafted free agent out of Clemson. He tallied 49 catches for 530 yards and seven touchdowns in his final year with the Tigers, painting him as a promising prospect with high offensive upside.
Ethan Driskell, OT
The Chiefs have some major issues at right tackle, so perhaps Ethan Driskell could be a factor there. He underwent an appendectomy during training camp and the preseason, and some speculated he wasn't even going to make the 53-man roster. Time can change a lot, though.
Now that Jawaan Taylor has struggled so badly and Driskell is eligible to return, the UDFA out of Marshall could be in for a more prominent role in his second year as a pro. He only made two appearances as a rookie, but with Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore as the only rotational pieces, there's a clear path for him to at least be a part of the conversation.
Whether or not any of Johnson, Briningstool, and Driskell can make a meaningful impact this season remains to be seen. Still, extra warm bodies are never a bad thing, and time will reveal exactly what type of opportunities the Chiefs' trio will see as the season progresses.