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The Chiefs and HC Andy Reid are making a practice squad elevation for Week 5.

As the clock ticks on the Kansas City Chiefs‘ Week 5 slate, the club is putting finishing touches on preparations for Monday Night Football. With that comes a roster move, albeit of the minor variety.

Per the NFL’s daily transaction wire and personnel notice, Kansas City is promoting someone from the practice squad.

Defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu makes the game-day leap via standard elevation.

Chiefs Elevate DT Marlon Tuipulotu Prior to Week 5 Game vs. Jaguars

This is a move that makes plenty of sense given where the Chiefs are at. On Saturday afternoon, head coach Andy Reid revealed that rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott suffered a shoulder injury. Once Friday’s practice came and went, the first-year man was a non-participant on Saturday due to the ailment. On the team’s official injury report, their second-round pick carries a “questionable” designation against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Adding a potential reinforcement is a wise decision. Tuipulotu, a routine member of the practice squad, can come up for games three times during the regular season. If brought up a fourth time, he’d have to be signed to the active 53-man roster. Tuipulotu has appeared in just one regular-season contest for the Chiefs thus far, logging three defensive snaps in Week 1’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

At worst, the 26-year-old brings a veteran presence and an insurance policy down to Jacksonville. The former sixth-round pick racked up 43 tackles (4 for loss) and 3 sacks with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2021-2023, later finding his way to Kansas City. He played in two games a season ago, recording 4 tackles and receiving 68 combined snaps between defense (61) and special teams (7).

In his Saturday media availability, Reid said he thought Norman-Lott “should be OK.” He didn’t seem one bit worried that the shoulder issue would linger for too long.

UPDATE: Norman-Lott is inactive for Week 6.

Kansas City Faces Tall Task in Slowing Down Jaguars’ Offense

Regardless of who’s getting depth snaps at defensive tackle, the Chiefs will need to be on top of their game. Under first year head coach Liam Coen, widely regarded as an offensive-minded leader, Jacksonville is 3-1 and looking to keep pace in the AFC South.

Their offense may rank 16th in EPA/play, but it’s phenomenal on the ground. Travis Etienne is having a 2025 breakout, helping lead a rushing attack that ranks seventh in EPA/rush. The Jaguars also have a well-built offensive line that is keeping its field general clean consistently.

Speaking to the media this week, pass rusher Chris Jones tipped his cap to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and company for getting out to an impressive start.

“They’re battle tested,” Jones said. “Watching throughout the course of the few games they’ve played, they’ve been battle tested. The Houston Texans game, it was a battle especially in the fourth quarter. It was a back-and-forth battle, and their defense has been playing lights out. Trevor Lawrence has made a lot of progression throughout the years. He’s made a lot of big throws when the team needed him. They have a very great cohesive group that’s playing well together right now. The challenge for us is the D-line and the defense to get after them.”

Players like Norman-Lott or Tuipulotu won’t swing anything this week or next. Still, the Chiefs are ensuring they’re well-prepared for just about anything on the Monday Night Football stage.

Jordan Foote is a seasoned sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with an emphasis on the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has years of experience publishing NFL and MLB content for Sports Illustrated’s On SI vertical, in addition to a background in NBA coverage for multiple outlets. Foote is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media. He’s based in Kansas City. More about Jordan Foote

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