The Kansas City Chiefs made a questionable signing at defensive tackle Thursday. Per Tom Pelissero with the NFL Network, the Chiefs signed Isaiah Buggs to the practice squad Thursday. The Detroit Lions released Buggs on Tuesday.
Isaiah Buggs had a dramatic start to the season
Buggs, a 2019 sixth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, had a curious and somewhat drama-filled season with the Lions before he was released Tuesday. The Lions signed Buggs to a two-year deal worth $6 million before the season.
Veteran DL Isaiah Buggs is signing with the #Chiefs practice squad, per source. Reinforcements up front for KC's D.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 4, 2024
Buggs deleted the Lions from his social media profiles following their Week 1 victory over the Chiefs. Buggs was made inactive for the game, something that he said was a “surprise” after he started 13 games for the Lions in 2022. Biggs made several cryptic Tweets suggesting that “relationships” and “situations” change.
According to a USA Today report from early September, Buggs thought the Lions were in on him starting in 2023. He also offered a questionable explanation for his actions on social media following his being made inactive for Week 1:
“You thinking they’re all in with you, and then, ‘Boom.’ With a snap of your finger, it’s like that. Like I said, I’ve always been a team player, I’ve always been a role player. Whatever they have for me, that’s what I’m going to do.”…
Buggs also downplayed the ambiguously ominous social media posts that sent Lions fans agog over the weekend.
“It’s nothing to address, to be honest,” Buggs said. “It’s nothing to address. Like I say, things change, relationships change. There’s nothing to address, honestly,” Buggs said. “I’m just saying in life, period. It’s nothing dealing with football. It’s nothing dealing with here (the Lions). I’m just saying, so I don’t want anybody to take that context and run with it. But at the same time, relationships do change. That’s all I’m going to say, it’s nothing else to say about that.”
The Kansas City Chiefs are taking a risk with this late-season signing
After three starts and a bunch of healthy scratches, Buggs is no longer with the NFC North Champion Lions. That’s a curious outcome after signing a multi-year deal before the season, especially considering he was projected to start for the Lions before the regular season started.
That background is why adding him to the Chiefs is a little confusing now. The Chiefs have had plenty of emotional outbursts this season on the field and after games. Adding another player with a chip on their shoulder before the playoffs is a risky move by head coach Andy Reid.
Does Buggs have the talent to make up for it in Kansas City?
