The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off Monday of preseason Week 2 with a new signing, and the addition comes just after a hard-luck injury was suffered at the same position on Saturday evening.
“The Chiefs signed defensive end Nate Matlack ahead of practice this morning,” Chiefs team reporter Matt McMullen announced on X. Adding: “Local player who graduated from Olathe East before spending time at K-State and Pitt.”
This news came just after it was revealed that veteran defensive end Janarius Robinson was absent from practice with an injury. After the Monday session, head coach Andy Reid informed the media that Robinson suffered a “foot fracture,” although the severity of the injury is unclear.
“Janarius Robinson ended up having a foot fracture right on his little toe there,” Reid said on August 11.
Of course, for a bubble candidate like Robinson, any missed time at training camp could be detrimental to your chances of making the 53-man roster or the practice squad. The Athletic’s Jesse Newell made this same connection on X, inferring that he has “to think this [Matlack] move is for [Robinson].”
Mentioned after the game that Janarius Robinson injured himself in fourth quarter. We'll get an update on Robinson after practice, but have to think this move is for him. Don't see Robinson at today's practice. https://t.co/y5oSUWUotG
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 11, 2025
It should also be noted that safety Deon Bush suffered a torn Achilles this weekend, and the assumption is that he will be transferred from the 91-man camp roster to the season-ending injured reserve.
UPDATE: Later on August 11, after officially announcing the Matlack signing, the Chiefs placed both Bush and Robinson on the Reserve/Injured list, officially ending their seasons (barring injury settlement/release).
Janarius Robinson Was 1 of the Chiefs’ Clear Standouts of Preseason Week 1
It’s been a quiet spring and summer for Robinson after the former Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher signed in KC, but that changed on August 9.
Without question, Robinson was one of the clear Chiefs’ standout performers against the Arizona Cardinals, and that makes this injury news even more unfortunate.
“In a crowded position group, this former Las Vegas Raiders player needs to make plays to get noticed,” Arrowhead Pride’s Matt Stagner wrote about Robinson on August 10 after identifying him as one of 10 Chiefs “winners” of the preseason opener. “That’s just what he did in the third quarter, swatting away a block before chasing down the quarterback for a clean sack.”
Going one step further, Pro Football Focus actually credited Robinson with a team-leading defensive grade of 84.4, despite only being on the field for 8 snaps before his injury.
Along with the aforementioned sack, PFF gave Robinson credit for 1 key defensive “stop” on Saturday night. We’ll have to wait and see if Robinson’s foot injury puts an end to his brief Kansas City career.
More on New Chiefs Signing Nate Matlack
After the news that Matlack is signing with the Chiefs, KSHB 41 beat reporter Nick Jacobs reminded fans that the undrafted prospect “had a strong showing during rookie camp back in May.”
So, there is some familiarity here between Matlack and the Chiefs.
“Matlack is listed at 6-foot-5 and 254 pounds, and is quite an impressive athlete,” A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman relayed on August 11. “He posted a 4.75-second 40-yard dash, a 4.3-second shuttle run, a 7.10-second three-cone, a 38.5-inch broad jump, and a 122-inch broad jump at his pro day.”
Adding: “Over four seasons between the [Kansas State] Wildcats and [Pittsburgh] Panthers, he recorded 61 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks.”
Matlack joins the youth movement on the defensive side this spring and summer, as the Chiefs’ preseason roster now includes 14 total rookies who were either drafted or brought in as post-draft UDFAs.
