The Kansas City Chiefs made two defensive roster moves ahead of their Week 10 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, adding help to a defensive line dealing with injuries and limited depth. The team signed defensive tackle Marcus Harris to its 53-man roster and brought defensive end Jack Pyburn back to the practice squad.
The moves came after the Chiefs traded wide receiver Josh Downs earlier in the week. With a 6-2 record, Kansas City was preparing for its trip to Atlanta while managing injuries to two players along the interior defensive line. Rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods was set to miss his second consecutive game because of a neck stinger, while second-year lineman Omarr Norman-Lott was working through a back injury.
Promoting Harris gives defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo another familiar player to use in the defensive-line rotation. Re-signing Pyburn also fills the practice-squad spot left open when Harris moved to the active roster.
## Marcus Harris promoted to the 53-man roster
Harris first earned a place on Kansas City’s 53-man roster after a strong performance in the third game of the preseason. He led the defense with six tackles and was the only interior defensive lineman to record a tackle for a loss, finishing with three in that game. His play contributed to the Chiefs’ preseason tie against the Seattle Seahawks.
Across the preseason, Harris played 90 snaps—the most among Kansas City’s defensive players. He finished with eight tackles and one pass defended. The team later moved him to its practice squad.
Before this promotion, Harris had appeared in three games for the Chiefs, none as a starter. He had recorded one combined tackle in those appearances. His third and final practice-squad elevation of the season came in Kansas City’s win over the New York Jets last week. Because practice-squad elevations do not reset until the postseason, the Chiefs could not simply elevate him again for the Falcons game. Adding him to the 53-man roster allowed the team to make him available.
The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle began his college career at Kansas. In 2020, he recorded 27 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss before transferring to Auburn. Over three seasons with the Tigers, he totaled 97 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. His performance earned him First-Team All-SEC honors in 2023.
Harris now has a chance to take on a larger role during his second season with Kansas City. His preseason production showed he could get into the backfield, and his experience with the team gives the coaching staff a player who already knows its system. While one roster move cannot address every issue on the defensive line, Harris adds another option as the Chiefs navigate their injury concerns.
## Jack Pyburn returns to the Chiefs’ practice squad
Kansas City filled Harris’s former practice-squad spot by bringing Pyburn back to the team. The Chiefs had claimed the linebacker off waivers during roster cuts in August, but waived him several days ago to make room for Downs. Pyburn had not been activated for a game this season before his return.
Pyburn entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He drew attention during the preseason by recording four sacks in three games, but Tampa Bay ultimately released him.
The 6-foot-4, 258-pound defender played college football for the Florida Gators before transferring to LSU in 2025. At Florida, he returned from a torn ACL suffered in 2023 and posted 60 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and an interception.
At LSU, Pyburn appeared in all 12 games and started 11 during his senior season. He recorded 52 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery. That season helped earn him an invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl. Across 41 college games, he finished with 132 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
With Pyburn back on the practice squad, the Chiefs have four defensive linemen on that unit. The 53-man roster has eight defensive linemen. The two moves give Kansas City additional defensive depth as it prepares to face Atlanta, with Harris available for the active roster and Pyburn returning to the team’s developmental group.
