NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Kansas City Chiefs are undergoing a seismic shift in their backfield, leaving fans and analysts stunned as the team heads into Sunday’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans. With a flurry of roster moves on Saturday, the Chiefs have completely transformed their running back room, ushering in a new era that looks nothing like the one we’ve seen for most of the 2025 season. Dameon Pierce time has officially arrived, and it’s set to redefine Kansas City’s ground game.
The veteran running back, a 5-10, 215-pound powerhouse in his fourth year out of Florida, was signed to the 53-man roster on Saturday and immediately joined the team for the trip to Tennessee. Pierce, who had practice-squad offers from five other teams before inking with the Chiefs on Nov. 24, brings explosive speed and proven production to a backfield in desperate need of a spark. To clear space, Kansas City waived running back Elijah Mitchell, marking the end of a brief and underwhelming stint.
Pierce’s arrival couldn’t be more poetic—he returns to Nissan Stadium, the very site where he erupted for a jaw-dropping 92-yard touchdown run just 11 months ago, the longest from scrimmage in the entire 2024 NFL season. In that play, he humiliated linebacker Luke Gifford at the line, burst into the open field, and outran three Titans defenders to the end zone. Now, with his 4.59-second 40-yard dash speed, Pierce isn’t just a threat on handoffs; he’s also poised to bolster the Chiefs’ kickoff returns, especially with Tyquan Thornton sidelined by a concussion.
Mitchell, meanwhile, never found his footing in Kansas City. Signed as an unrestricted free agent, he was activated for just one game—the Nov. 16 loss to Denver—and remained inactive for 13 of the team’s 14 contests this season. His departure underscores the Chiefs’ urgency to revamp a backfield that’s struggled amid injuries and inconsistencies.
But the backfield shakeup is just the tip of the iceberg in this whirlwind of changes. The Chiefs also bolstered their offensive line and quarterback depth by adding tackle Chu Godrick and quarterback Chris Oladokun to the 53-man roster. Godrick, an International Player Pathway product, stepped up in his NFL debut last week, entering just two plays in at right tackle to replace Jaylon Moore. He’s now slated for his first career start on Sunday, providing much-needed stability up front.
Oladokun, a practice-squad mainstay for multiple years, steps in as the backup to Gardner Minshew following Patrick Mahomes’ devastating season-ending knee surgery. These additions come as the Chiefs placed two key starters on injured reserve, further reshaping the lineup for the final stretch.
Starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor, absent since the first half of the Thanksgiving game in Dallas, lands on IR with an elbow injury. This opens the door for Godrick or rookie left tackle Esa Pola—who remarkably never played high school football—to gain crucial starting experience over the last three games.
On the defensive side, the moves hit even harder. Linebacker Leo Chenal, one of the Chiefs’ top defensive standouts, was placed on IR with a shoulder injury. This could very well be the end of his tenure in Kansas City, as the unrestricted free agent heads into the offseason market in March. His absence paves the way for rookie Jeffrey Bassa to seize significant playing time in the season’s closing weeks.
Rounding out the roster adjustments, the Chiefs elevated linebacker Cole Christiansen and tackle Matt Waletzko for gameday duty. Waletzko, a towering 6-8, 305-pound lineman from North Dakota, joined the practice squad on Dec. 3 and is expected to serve as the swing tackle.
These stunning moves signal a team in full rebuild mode on the fly, with the backfield leading the charge into uncharted territory. As the Chiefs kick off against the Titans at 12 p.m. CT (CBS/KCTV, Channel 5, 96.5 The Fan), all eyes will be on Pierce and the revamped unit. Is this the jolt Kansas City needs to salvage the season? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—the Chiefs’ backfield is unrecognizable, and the NFL world is buzzing.