Chiefs Promote Jaydn Ott to Active Roster

The Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Jaydn Ott to the active roster after placing Brashard Smith on injured reserve.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Football

Chiefs Promote Jaydn Ott to Active Roster

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The Kansas City Chiefs have promoted running back Jaydn Ott from the practice squad to the team's 53-man active roster. This move follows the decision to place fellow running back Brashard Smith on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.

Why it matters

The team required a roster adjustment to address depth at the position following the injury to Brashard Smith. Jaydn Ott is now positioned to potentially make his first regular-season NFL appearance.

Running back Jaydn Ott previously recorded 1,305 rushing yards and a 22-yard average kickoff return during his 2023 season at California. His physical metrics include a 485-pound squat capacity and a 370-pound bench-press capacity.

The players

Jaydn Ott

He is a professional running back who previously played collegiate football at California and Oklahoma.

Brashard Smith

He is a running back for the Kansas City Chiefs who has been placed on the reserve/injured list.

Jaylon Moore

He is a right tackle who has been ruled out for the game against the Seahawks due to a concussion.

The details

Jaydn Ott, who originally joined the team as an undrafted free agent, will be available for selection for the upcoming matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. This shift fills the vacancy created by Brashard Smith, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Timeline

  1. May 1, 2026: The Chiefs signed Jaydn Ott as an undrafted free agent.

  2. October 24, 2026: The team signed Ott to the active roster.

  3. October 25, 2026: The Chiefs face the Seahawks at Lumen Field.

Season Trajectory

This roster move underscores the constant personnel flux teams face as they manage injury-related depth issues throughout the season. It highlights the reliance on practice squad assets to maintain competitive balance during critical division or conference matchups.

Jaydn Ott is now eligible to contribute in the backfield or on special teams for the game against the Seattle Seahawks. This promotion suggests he has surpassed internal benchmarks for roster consideration since joining as an undrafted free agent.

The takeaway

Roster depth remains a critical factor for NFL teams navigating the physical toll of a full regular season. Fans should monitor pre-game reports to see how the coaching staff integrates newly active depth players into the offensive scheme.

Further reading

For more on the latest team updates, visit Kansas City Football.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.

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