The Kansas City Chiefs cleared two roster spots this week by waiving wide receiver and return specialist Nikko Remigio along with defensive end Jack Pyburn, the team announced.
Both moves came as the club finalized its trade for wide receiver Josh Downs, freeing active roster space while leaving the pair available for waiver claims or a possible return to the practice squad.
Remigio, 27, had spent nearly four seasons in Kansas City after going undrafted out of Fresno State in 2023.
A former California player who transferred for his final college season, he signed as an undrafted free agent and spent his rookie year on injured reserve. Once healthy, he carved out a role primarily on special teams.
Across his time with the Chiefs, he appeared in more than two dozen games, logging limited offensive snaps but becoming a regular in the return game. His receiving production stayed modest—three career catches for 69 yards—yet he handled dozens of kickoff and punt returns, averaging roughly 26 yards on kickoffs.
In the 2024 AFC Championship Game, he delivered a long punt return that helped set up a touchdown and advance the team. This season he had appeared in every game, contributing more than 50 special-teams snaps while returning 14 punts for 78 yards and a dozen kickoffs for over 300 yards.
A 69-yard return was wiped out by penalty in the most recent contest. With his offensive involvement minimal and younger options available for return duties, Remigio’s waiver opens a path for other teams to claim him or for Kansas City to bring him back later if he clears.
Pyburn, 23, followed a shorter and less active path.
The undrafted rookie signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2026 draft and led the preseason in sacks with four before being released. Kansas City claimed him off waivers at the end of August.
A former Florida player who transferred to LSU for his final college season, he arrived with solid run-defense production and special-teams experience from college.
Once in Kansas City, however, he remained a healthy scratch through the first eight games and never appeared on the active roster.
His presence provided depth along the defensive line and on special teams, but the club opted to waive him rather than keep an unused rookie while adding an established receiver.
Because he has yet to play a regular-season snap, other clubs seeking edge-rush or special-teams help may view him as a low-risk addition if he becomes available.
Together the two waivers remove a long-tenured special-teams contributor and a rookie depth piece who never saw the field.
Remigio’s return experience and Pyburn’s preseason pass-rush flashes leave open the possibility that either could resurface elsewhere or, if they clear waivers, rejoin Kansas City’s practice squad in the coming days.
