Former Chiefs Star Finally Practicing Again After Missing Most of 2024

Jan 13, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) reacts after a play during the first half of a 2024 AFC wild card game against the Miami Dolphins at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Jan 13, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) reacts after a play during the first half of a 2024 AFC wild card game against the Miami Dolphins at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Despite falling in the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs are the team everyone wants to beat in 2025. Even opposing coaches treat preseason games against the Chiefs like litmus tests for the upcoming season and it’s a testament how Brett Veach has built a strong roster around quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Unfortunately in the salary cap era, that means Veach has had to be flexible. While a high-profile name like Tyreek Hill had to change teams to fit under the cap, the Chiefs have also made other gambles letting players walk for greener pastures. 

One player who was traded before his big pay day turned out to be the correct call for Kansas City after missing most of the entire season. But after missing most of training camp,  he made his long-awaited return to the practice field on Wednesday.

Former Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed Returns to Practice for Titans

Former Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed reached a big milestone toward a return to the field on Wednesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports he has passed a physical and will return to practice for the Tennessee Titans. The 28-year-old was in the final stages of recovering from a knee procedure, and he'll now look to get back to the form that convinced Tennessee to bring him in last offseason.

Sneed was a fourth-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2020 draft and became an instant standout in the Kansas City secondary. Sneed recorded 303 total tackles, 10 interceptions and 40 pass defenses over his four seasons in Kansas City. Yet, the Chiefs decided to cut costs and traded him to the Titans in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick after initially placing the franchise tag on him.

The Titans also gave Sneed a four-year, $76.4 million contract in the aftermath of the trade but received a disappointing first season. Sneed appeared in five games for Tennessee last season before suffering what was initially diagnosed as a quad bruise in a Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts. The injury was eventually revealed as a strain and required Sneed to get surgery before undergoing a knee cleanup operation in May.

Sneed isn’t out of the woods yet as his status for Week 1 was in doubt earlier this week. But a return to practice is a good first step to try and prove that Kansas City made the wrong decision trading him away.

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