The first domino has officially fallen for the Kansas City Chiefs roster cutdown. And a unique one at that. Undrafted rookie linebacker out of the University of Miami, Wesley Bissainthe, was just released by the Chiefs, just days after he was granted eligibility to return for another season of college football.
According to a story done by Anthony Aguirre of Yahoo Sports, Bissainthe was one of just 40 total players granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) from a Dallas judge, which prohibits both the NCAA and the SEC from stopping them from playing another year in college.
Now we could get into all the issues at hand that threaten college football and the countless poor decisions made by the NCAA, but that'd be pretty boring. What's more interesting is what Bissainthe's departure means for the Chiefs.
In my initial 53-man roster projection in June, I had Bissainthe just squeaking by, making the roster as a core special teams contributor for Dave Toub. But that was before a training camp where he was quiet and a trio of preseason games where the 22-year-old was seemingly nonexistent.
Kansas City may have just lost UDFA Wesley Bissainthe to the college ranks
I certainly did not include him on my final 53-man roster prediction earlier this morning, but Bissainthe probably would have been on my list as a practice squad signee. Which makes his move back to college baffling, as it seems like taking a step back when, next year, he probably goes undrafted once again and will have to learn a whole new defensive system.
As of now, the Chiefs' linebacker room is firm at the top with Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill manning the starting spots. Behind them is second-year, fifth-round pick Jeffrey Bassa, whose stock has climbed all summer and has flashed his speed and tackling ability.
Jack Cochrane, to some fans' dismay, will make the team as the backup mic-linebacker. He's been in Spagnuolo's scheme for years and knows it backward and forward. Then it's Cole Christiansen and Cooper McDonald fighting for that fifth spot.
Perhaps both make it, just one, or maybe even neither. But one thing is for sure. The release of Wesley Bissainthe certainly opens the door for a guy like Cam Jones to make some noise, and even Kam Arnold as a practice squad possibility.
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