3 Chiefs who played their way onto the 53-man roster

Tim Ward, Defensive End

The Chiefs are sneaky-deep across the defensive line. Headlined by Chris Jones, Frank Clark, and Jarran Reed, this unit is one of Kansas City’s best.

Tim Ward is aiming to join this formidable unit and carve out a role in this defense. The Chiefs signed Ward as an undrafted free agent in 2019. That year, he was flashing in the spring. It was unfortunately a lost season for Ward as he suffered an injury that kept him out the whole season.

Just this past season, he was activated from the practice squad onto the active roster, and even recorded his first career sack in Week 16 against the division rival Chargers.

Brett Veach has been excited about Ward since they brought him in as a rookie.

“Then one other guy that you might not see this year, but I think that this Tim Ward from Old Dominion,” Veach said in 2019. “We’re not going to rush him, and he could be a guy that could really develop and be a player in the future.”

Ward has impressed thus far in his preseason action. He shows quick, instinctive movement off the line, and his long arms and stature are two things Steve Spagnuolo looks for in his defensive ends.

Ward’s quick and powerful burst off of the line stuck out in this play as he forced a Kellen Mond fumble. The best-case scenario for both the Chiefs and Ward is bringing Ward in situationally to provide momentum-shifting plays like these.

Like Fortson, Ward has been with the Chiefs for several years and is finally putting the pieces together. Expect to hear Ward’s name called during the season for a sack, forced fumble, or even one of Andy Reid’s classic goal-line pass plays to a defensive lineman.