Kansas City Chiefs Promote Wide Receiver Andrew Armstrong to Active Roster Ahead of Seattle Matchup
The Kansas City Chiefs have officially signed wide receiver Andrew Armstrong to their 53-man roster, altering their lineup ahead of Sunday night’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The move comes as the team addresses ongoing personnel shifts driven by injuries at both wide receiver and running back.
Armstrong initially entered the league in 2025 as an undrafted signing with the Miami Dolphins out of Arkansas. During his NFL debut, he recorded one reception for 13 yards while logging 42 offensive snaps and an additional nine plays on special teams. After seeing extensive action during the preseason and missing the initial final roster cut, Armstrong was signed to the Kansas City practice squad. With starting wide receiver Rashee Rice sidelined for his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury, Armstrong was widely expected to contribute against Seattle, a transition solidified by Friday’s official NFL transactions report moving him to the active 53-man roster.
Additional urgency in the team’s roster management arose from a backfield injury during Thursday’s practice. Third-string running back Brashard Smith sustained a hamstring injury that will sideline him for Sunday’s game, as confirmed by head coach Andy Reid. To address the vacancy, rookie running back Jadyn Ott is set to be elevated from the practice squad, marking his first appearance in an NFL regular-season game. Ott joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma following April’s draft, previously playing under current Chiefs running backs coach DeMarco Murray with the Sooners.
To fill Armstrong’s vacant spot on the practice squad, the Chiefs brought back running back Nate Carter. Carter had spent the entire season on Kansas City’s practice squad before being released on Wednesday to make room for linebacker Aiden Fisher. During the 2025 season with the Atlanta Falcons, Carter recorded nine carries for 60 yards.
The transactions leave the Chiefs with ongoing roster adjustments heading into the weekend. Following the release of linebacker Cam Jones and the placement of tackle Josh Simmons on the Reserve/Injured list on Thursday, the team technically held an open spot on the 53-man roster even after promoting Armstrong. However, linebacker Cooper McDonald is widely expected to be activated from injured reserve on Saturday, clearing the way for him to suit up in Seattle. McDonald has been recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Chiefs’ Week 1 contest against the Denver Broncos and was designated to return earlier in the week.
