The Kansas City Chiefs relayed another set of roster moves via the NFL transaction log on July 30, signing wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter II amid a string of training camp injuries at the position.
UFL/USFL/XFL reporter James Larsen also broke the news on X, stating: “BREAKING: The Kansas City Chiefs are signing @USFLShowboats WR Kwamie Lassiter II following his workout today, per league source. Lassiter spent this past UFL season with Memphis, totaling 257 yards & 1 TD.”
Larsen also described Lassiter as a “speedy slot WR,” noting that he was previously with the Cincinnati Bengals at the NFL level.
In order to make room for their new wide receiver signing, the Chiefs pulled the plug on the training camp battle at punter.
“The Chiefs have waived P Eddie Czaplicki per NFL transactions,” KSHB 41 beat reporter Nick Jacobs informed on Wednesday evening, relaying the corresponding move.
Before signing Lassiter, Kansas City worked out a slew of wide receivers and cornerbacks on July 30. Per Chiefs Digest reporter Matt Derrick, the players that KC took a look at were Lassiter, WR Kawaan Baker, CB Ajani Carter, CB Harrison Hand, CB Kaleb Hayes, and CB Azizi Hearn.
Matt Araiza Wins Punter Battle Early on at Chiefs Training Camp as Eddie Czaplicki Gets Cut
Lassiter is just a camp body for the moment, although there is always a chance he takes this opportunity and turns it into a practice squad role. Either way, the bigger story here is the Chiefs cutting Czaplicki.
Barring something unforeseen, this means Matt Araiza will be Kansas City’s punter for the second straight season.
Czaplicki was a highly touted UDFA who performed well this spring, so this was no walk in the park for Araiza, but at the end of the day, the Chiefs will stick with the more experienced leg.
Araiza was solid last year, and it’s hard to find a punter who can boom the football as far, but there was room for improvement. Two areas the Chiefs have talked about Araiza getting a little better at are touchbacks and pinning teams inside the 20.
Araiza can send the ball flying, but can he perfect the art of dropping a punt right inside the 10-yard line with hangtime, allowing for a teammate to pin it? How about putting more backspin and “touch” on his punts?
This should all get better with time, as Araiza is only 25 years old. Hopefully, the competition from Czaplicki made him better as he enters another season in KC.
More on Chiefs WR Signing Kwamie Lassiter II
With Xavier Worthy in concussion protocol, and both Hollywood Brown (ankle) and Skyy Moore (hamstring) slightly hobbled, it makes sense for the Chiefs to bring in another wideout. This time, they chose Lassiter.
Per Football Database, Lassiter entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie out of Kansas in 2022. The 5-foot-11 pass-catcher has only appeared in 2 regular season NFL games, both with the Bengals, and has recorded 1 catch for 2 yards.
At Kansas, Lassiter’s career-high receiving total came in 2021, with 653 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air.
He also caught 24 of 38 targets for the UFL’s Memphis Showboats this spring, accumulating 271 receiving yards and 1 touchdown over 8 UFL appearances.
In college, Lassiter returned 30 punts for a total of 200 yards (6.67 yards per return, long of 26 yards). He also returned 1 kickoff for 19 yards at Kansas and a second kickoff for 28 yards with Memphis this spring.
