Despite making waves during spring practices, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Robert Tonyan may soon find himself off the 53-man roster — at least temporarily.

Though Tonyan impressed during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, analysts believe he could still end up on the practice squad to start the 2025 season. According to Arrowhead Pride’s Jared Sapp, Tonyan may fall victim to a calculated roster move the Chiefs have used before — parting ways with a veteran just before final cuts, only to re-sign him days later.

“By most accounts, Robert Tonyan — who joined Kansas City’s practice squad last December — turned heads during spring sessions,” Sapp wrote on July 1. “But that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a Week 1 roster spot.”

With Travis Kelce likely seeing a reduced workload at age 35, and Jared Wiley still rehabbing from a torn ACL, Tonyan appears to be a natural fit in the tight end rotation. However, there’s a twist — and it comes down to veteran status.

NFL rules stipulate that vested veterans (players with four or more accrued seasons) are guaranteed their full base salary if they’re on the 53-man roster for Week 1. For Tonyan, that means $1.3 million locked in, a figure the Chiefs may hesitate to commit to for a depth piece.

“Kansas City has shown a clear reluctance to guarantee even modest salaries to end-of-roster players,” Sapp added, referencing past moves like the C.J. Spiller shuffle, in which the team repeatedly signed and released the veteran RB.

Tonyan could follow the same script. The expectation is that Wiley will eventually return and reclaim the TE3 role, making Tonyan more of a short-term solution. That sets up a possible roster shuffle, with Tonyan being released before the final cut deadline — only to rejoin the practice squad shortly after.

In these scenarios, there’s typically a mutual understanding between the team and the veteran: “We’ll cut you now, stash a younger player on the active roster, and bring you back immediately — no waivers involved.”

That’s because vested veterans are not subject to waivers, meaning Kansas City can release Tonyan without risking another team claiming him. Meanwhile, younger players would have to clear waivers — a much greater risk for the front office.

This maneuver has become a staple of the Andy Reid–Brett Veach era. While it may seem controversial to some — especially for a veteran who’s clearly earned a role — it’s simply a byproduct of savvy cap and roster management in today’s NFL.

So while Robert Tonyan may not appear on the Chiefs’ official Week 1 roster, don’t count him out. He could be back in uniform — and on the field — sooner than you think.