Chiefs add a Wide Receiver and Tight End to Practice Squad

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For weeks, fans have been calling for the Kansas City Chiefs to make some moves in the pass-catching department, and the team is finally listening.

Earlier this week, Aaron Wilson of KRPC-TV reported that Anthony Miller and Izaiah Gathings are joining the KC practice squad.

Gathings originally joined the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent last spring, with the Chiefs cutting the tight end during the 2023 training camp.

Miller, meanwhile, was a second-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 2018, featuring for three teams during his NFL career.

It’s no secret that the Chiefs’ wide receivers have been consistently unreliable throughout the 2023 campaign, but what could Gathings or Miller bring to the table?

Second Chance

With all the drops from Chief players, it was a matter of time before Andy Reid would seek alternative options.

Kansas City needs a spark from somewhere to put everyone’s minds at ease heading into the playoffs.

With a victory on Monday, they’ll officially clinch the AFC East, assuring themselves a playoff berth.

After that, it seems there isn’t much to lose by trying Gathings out.

It’s a second chance for Gathings to prove he deserves to be an NFL tight end.

The Middle Tennessee product has a nice size for his position and can extend his hands and snatch the ball away from his frame.

He doesn’t have much open-field speed, but his size and hands could be his saving grace as the Chiefs need someone outside of Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice to make some catches.

Miller Time?

Miller has what Gathings doesn’t: NFL experience, with 18 regular season games and a pair of playoff appearances with the Bears.

In his three seasons in the Windy City, the wide receiver had some solid numbers, boasting over 400 yards receiving each year.

His best campaign occurred in 2019, catching 52 passes for 656 yards, though he only managed two touchdowns on that occasion, five fewer than in his 2018 rookie season.

He also possesses another speed option for KC, averaging between 9.9 and 12.8 yards per catch during each of his seasons in Chicago.

He’s also got playoff experience and knows Matt Nagy‘s system well, with the current Chiefs offensive coordinator previously serving as his head coach with the Bears.

Since his trade to the Houston Texans in July 2021, Miller has struggled to establish himself as a regular NFL receiver.

The Texans released him after two games before Miller signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad later that year.

He had just one catch in Steeltown before joining the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts’ practice squads in 2023.

Miller hasn’t played an NFL game since 2021.

Still, his ability to accelerate out of cuts to create a throwing window could be a valuable commodity.

He can also be effective at all three levels and seeing as the Chiefs are in win-now mode, Miller seeing some game action between now and the end of the regular season makes the most sense.