Kansas City Chiefs give preseason standout another shot after spending majority of 2025 NFL season on practice squad

Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach continues to build for the future after a disappointing 6-11 2025 NFL season.

The Chiefs have signed over a half-dozen players to reserve/future contracts following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season. Many of those players were from the practice squad, though a handful were entirely new additions.

On Monday, the team opted to re-sign a familiar face who spent most of the season on the practice squad after standing out in a big way during the preseason. Could that translate to more in 2026? That’s certainly the hope for Kansas City.

Chiefs sign WR Jason Brownlee to reserve/future deal

Brownlee originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the New York Jets after going undrafted out of Southern Mississippi. The 26-year-old will enter his third season with the Chiefs in 2026, first signing to the practice squad in Jan. of 2025. He signed a reserve/future contract with the team in February following the Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

A standout training camp led to an opportunity in the preseason, during which Brownlee caught a back-shoulder fade touchdown from Patrick Mahomes against the Arizona Cardinals. That performance ultimately led to a bigger opportunity for Brownlee. With Rashee Rice suspended to start the season, Brownlee made the initial 53-man roster and appeared in six games for the Chiefs. He was targeted only once during those first six games, with most of his contributions coming as a blocker or on special teams. When Rice returned to action, K.C. waived Brownlee and re-signed him to the practice squad.

At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Brownlee has a body type and skill set that Kansas City needs more of. With several pending free agents at the wide receiver position like Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Hollywood Brown, the Chiefs are wise to bring Brownlee back for another offseason with a shot to further build chemistry and make an impact.