The Kansas City Chiefs entered Friday with only three defensive tackles on their active roster. Tershawn Wharton signed a lucrative contract with the Carolina Panthers, while Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi, and Marlon Tuipulotu remain unsigned but could return to Kansas City. Finally, excluding Chris Jones, the other two players on their active roster have combined for four career games.
Kansas City Chiefs add defensive lineman with 50 career starts
According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, the Chargers signed Jerry Tillery to a one-year contract.
Sources: The #Chiefs are signing former #Chargers 1st-round DT Jerry Tillery to a 1-year deal.
Good depth add to the Kansas City D-Line, as Tillery has recorded 12.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in 50 career starts. pic.twitter.com/9aysyt3zdK
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 14, 2025
Tillery is on his fourth team and seventh year in the league. The former first-round pick from the Los Angeles Chargers has recorded 175 tackles, 15 TFLs, 44 QB hits, 12.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 96 games and 50 starts.
The newcomer spent 2024 with Minnesota
The Minnesota Vikings signed Jerry Tillery to a one-year, $2.75 million contract. Tillery began the year as the starting defensive tackle, hovering around 50% of defensive snaps until Week 10, later losing the starting job and seeing his snap counts dip. He recorded 28 tackles, one TFL, three QB hits, and one forced fumble in 17 games and 11 starts, representing 41% of snaps. He also had 17 pressures, a 7.2% pass-rush win rate, ten stops, and a 4.8% run-stop win rate.
Here’s a look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ DT room
- Chris Jones
- Jerry Tillery
- Siaki Ika
- Fabien Lovett Sr.
