Chiefs Release De'Anthony Thomas and Terrell McClain
By Chris Russo
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a couple of under-the-radar moves they believe will strengthen their roster.
The team has announced its release of De'Anthony Thomas and Terrell McClain, but they're brought in two guys in their place.
#Chiefs announced the released of WR De'Anthony Thomas and DT Terrell McClain.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 22, 2019
Signed former #Patriots, #Jets DT DT Mike Pennel and signed the son of #Giants coach Pat Shurmur, Kyle, to the active roster [QB].
The Chiefs realased Thomas and McClain and replaced them with defensive tackle Mike Pennel and quarterback Kyle Shurmur.
Thomas was a career Chief who was in the midst of his sixth season as a wide receiver and return specialist. In six games this season, Thomas had only two offensive touches for 10 combined yards. In that same time frame, he averaged 4.2 yards per punt return and 22.1 yards per kick return.
McClain was in his ninth NFL season and his first with the Chiefs. In just two games, he made three tackles and did not record a sack.
Pennel is a defensive tackle in his sixth season and first with Kansas City. In five years with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, Pennel recorded 102 tackles over 69 games. The Jets let Pennel become a free agent in February.
— Mike Pennel (@TheBeastPennel) February 20, 2019
Though the Chiefs replaced a defensive tackle with a defensive tackle, they replaced a wide receiver with a quarterback, likely because of Patrick Mahomes' injury. Kansas City signed Shurmur as an undrafted free agent before this season. Shurmur spent four years at Vanderbilt, where he threw for a combined 8,865 yards, 64 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.