Per the official NFL transactions report, the Kansas City Chiefs cut two players on Thursday.
Running back Keaontay Ingram was waived with an injury designation. The former USC Trojan and Texas Longhorn — and 2022 sixth-round draft selection of the Arizona Cardinals — joined Kansas City’s practice squad late in the 2023 season. Returning to the Chiefs’ scout team in 2024, he appeared in a single game for the Chiefs last season but played only five special-teams snaps. For his career, Ingram has totaled 181 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. All of that was with Arizona from 2022-23.
Although the reason for the injury designation is unknown, Ingram will revert to Kansas City’s Reserve/Injured list (IR) upon clearing waivers. The Chiefs and Ingram’s agent are likely to promptly begin negotiations on an injury settlement such as the one announced with Thursday’s other roster move.
In that one, the team released rookie wide receiver Justin Lockhart from IR with an injury settlement. Lockhart recently joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of San Jose State, but was waived with an injury designation following the team’s rookie minicamp.
An injury settlement generally pays a player a prorated portion of his salary to cover the expected recovery time from an injury. After the designated injury period, Lockhart will be a free agent who may sign with any team. A reunion with the Chiefs (perhaps on their practice squad) is possible, though such released players are usually prohibited from signing with their former team until an additional six weeks have passed beyond the original terms of the injury settlement.
With Ingram’s move, the Chiefs have an open spot on their offseason 90-man roster.
