Breaking News:Andy Reid to Cut Ties With 2 Chiefs Players for Patrick Mahomes After Giving Up on QB….See more ⤵️

Released (veterans): S Mike Edwards and DT Mike Pennel — both cut as Kansas City finalized its initial 53. TE Robert Tonyan and DT Marlon Tuipulotu were also released.

Waived (quarterbacks): Bailey Zappe was waived ahead of the deadline, confirming KC has two QBs on the 53: Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew.

Follow-up roster shuffling: Kansas City continued tweaking the roster and practice squad through Aug 29.

Why Reid did it

Clear up the depth chart for Mahomes. Keeping only Mahomes + Minshew signals confidence in the QB room and frees spots to reinforce other areas that directly help No. 15 — pass-catchers and trench depth. (KC notably kept eight wide receivers on the initial 53 as they navigate Rashee Rice’s early-season absence.)

Get younger and faster on defense. Cutting Pennel and Edwards wasn’t just bookkeeping: GM Brett Veach said the club sought younger, comparable options on the interior (they reacquired Derrick Nnadi) and left the door open to future veteran returns if needed.

What it means right now

QB room set: Mahomes (starter), Minshew (backup). Zappe out.

Veteran turnover on D: Moving on from Pennel/Edwards clears space for ascending defenders and for Nnadi’s return to a familiar role beside Chris Jones.

Offense built around 15: Extra WR depth + Travis Kelce at TE signal a “spread the wealth” plan while the run game rotates behind Isiah Pacheco. (Initial 53 overview corroborates the structure.)

Winners & Watch List

Winners:

Gardner Minshew — locked in as QB2 behind Mahomes after Zappe’s waiver.

WR room — eight kept as KC protects Mahomes’ early-season options.

Derrick Nnadi — back in KC to bolster the interior rotation.

Watch List:

Possible veteran boomerang — Veach didn’t rule out a Pennel return if roster math changes (IR/designations/claims).

Practice squad churn — expect continued adds that insulate Mahomes and special teams as Week 1 nears.

Bottom line

This wasn’t chaos — it was calibration. Reid and Veach trimmed a veteran layer and a fringe QB to tighten the 53 around Mahomes’ needs, while refreshing defensive depth. The message is unmistakable: maximize the roster spots that most amplify No. 15 as the champs head to São Paulo for the opener.