It’s been a long time since Kansas City Chiefs fans have seen this, but the KC franchise is in full youth movement mode in Week 16 after the news of Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending injury — paired with their elimination from the 2025-26 playoffs.
On December 17, the Chiefs announced a full list of roster moves that all seem to have one thing in mind: the future. And Mahomes’ official IR designation kicked it all off.
“We have placed QB Patrick Mahomes on Reserve/Injured,” the team’s X account relayed. Adding: “We have signed Practice Squad player DT Zacch Pickens to an active roster contract. We have signed WR Jimmy Holiday to the Practice Squad. And we have designated TE Jake Briningstool and CB Nazeeh Johnson to return to practice.”
So, the undrafted summer standout, Holiday, makes his return once again as the Chiefs clear a roster spot, moving Pickens up to the 53.
Holiday has seesawed on and off the practice squad all season. Clearly, KC likes him because they keep bringing him back whenever they have the chance, but they didn’t like the rookie enough to roster him in the midst of a playoff race.
Now that the postseason is out of reach, Holiday is not-so-coincidentally back with the practice squad. And the same could be said about Briningstool, an undrafted rookie tight end who impressed throughout the spring and summer.
Jake Briningstool Appears to Be Magically Healthy Again as Chiefs Turn to Youth in Week 16
GettyKansas City Chiefs rookie tight end Jake Briningstool appears to be returning from injury.
If you believe that Briningstool was injured all this time and is now magically healthy again, the same week that Mahomes hits IR and the Chiefs miss out on the playoffs, then general manager Brett Veach has a bridge to sell you.
The plan was seemingly to stash Briningstool for his rookie year, given that he exited the preseason with an injury that was easily transferable to a reserve list.
This isn’t illegal by any means; it’s just another roster loophole that KC was happy to take advantage of.
Briningstool was a priority UDFA who could have easily been drafted. He signed with the Chiefs out of Clemson and immediately looked like a steal. Then, he suffered an injury setback.
With Travis Kelce’s future up in the air and a lot of work to be done this offseason, Kansas City did not want to lose Briningstool on waivers (or via a practice squad poaching), and they didn’t have room for him on the 53-man roster.
Now, it appears they do, as the Chiefs could part with a veteran or two down the stretch.
With the secondary more crowded than ever in 2025, KC also stashed Johnson after his preseason injury. This allowed them to retain both him and 2022 draftmate Joshua Williams.
According to Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick, both Briningstool and Johnson were a “full go” at practice on December 17.
Veteran DT Zacch Pickens Promoted Amid Chiefs Roster News
Holiday, Briningstool, and Johnson may be returning, but Pickens has been with the practice squad the entire season.
The former third-round selection of the Chicago Bears has not suited up for a regular season game yet for the Chiefs, but he was elevated one time early in the year (inactive). Now he’ll presumably get his opportunity as the 25-year-old defensive tackle looks to win a job on the offseason 90-man roster.
Pickens has been credited with 1 forced fumble, 1.5 career sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, and 4 QB hits. He appeared in 26 games with the Bears, starting 3 of them.
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