Chiefs Put L'Jarius Sneed on IR, and Kristian Fulton Takes His Spot for Denver

The Chiefs will play at least the next four games without one of their top corners. Kansas City placed cornerback L'Jarius Sneed on reserve/injured Saturday, the team announced on its official X account, the day before Sunday's AFC West game in Denver (via Chiefs Wire).

> @Chiefs on X: CB Melvin Smith signed from the practice squad to the active roster, DE Tyreke Smith elevated from the practice squad, and CB L'Jarius Sneed placed on Reserve/Injured. View the post

The knee

Sneed's knee was on the Chiefs' injury report all week. He missed Wednesday's practice (a personal matter plus the knee), was limited Thursday and Friday, and was listed questionable on the official Friday report. CBS Sports notes he has played through the knee issue all season. IR means he must sit at least four games: Denver, the Jets, Atlanta and Arizona. The earliest he could be back is Thanksgiving night at Buffalo.

Who steps in

Veteran Kristian Fulton is in line to start in Sneed's place, per Chiefs Wire, and CBS Sports points to Christian Roland-Wallace for a bigger role too. Melvin Smith's promotion gives Steve Spagnuolo another corner on the 53. Rookie Mansoor Delane (shoulder) is also questionable for Sunday, so cornerback depth is the thing to watch at Empower Field.

Sneed rejoined Kansas City as a free agent in June. He was the Chiefs' fourth-round pick in 2020 and won two Super Bowls in his first stint with the team.

What's next

Chiefs at Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 1, 3:25 PM CT on CBS.

Our Take: This hurts, but it's the right call. A corner playing on a sore knee in a big division road game is a target, and Denver will test whoever lines up outside. Four games off now gives Sneed a real shot at being healthy for the stretch run in December, when the Chiefs need him most. For Sunday, it's on Fulton to hold up.

Sources: Kansas City Chiefs on X, Chiefs.com injury report, Chiefs.com transactions, CBS Sports, ESPN schedule, via Chiefs Wire