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Stefen Wisniewski

OL Stefen Wisniewski Announces Retirement

August 26th, 2021 at 4:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Stefen Wisniewski started in each of the past two Super Bowls and played 10 NFL seasons. The veteran offensive lineman will not attempt to play an 11th, announcing his retirement Thursday (via Twitter).

Although Wisniewski did not participate in a playoff game until his seventh season, the interior O-lineman started in three of the past four Super Bowls. He collected Super Bowl rings as a starting guard for the 2017 Eagles and 2019 Chiefs, and after an injury settlement with the Steelers last year, the veteran blocker found his way back to Kansas City and saw injuries thrust him into a starting role for Super Bowl LV. He played every Chiefs offensive snap in that game.

Both Wisniewski’s father and uncle (ex-Raiders Pro Bowler Steve Wisniewski) played in the NFL, and Stefen followed suit with 106 starts in his career. The Raiders drafted Stefen in the 2011 second round and plugged him into their starting lineup immediately. He spent four seasons in Oakland, starting at guard and center, before signing a one-year deal with the Jaguars in 2015. Wisniewski’s most notable contract came on his second Eagles deal — a three-year, $9MM accord — in 2017.

After beginning the ’17 season as a backup, Wisniewski started 11 regular-season games and three playoff contests for the Eagles’ first Super Bowl-winning team. The Eagles tried Isaac Seumalo and Chance Warmack at left guard initially that year, but Wisniewski proved to be the solution. Seumalo ended up taking the reins after that season, leading Wisniewski to Kansas City, where he ended up finishing his career.

Chiefs Promote CB DeAndre Baker

December 19th, 2020 at 2:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several weeks after signing DeAndre Baker, the Chiefs are prepared to use the former first-round pick in a game. The defending Super Bowl champions promoted the second-year cornerback to their active roster Saturday.

The Chiefs added the former Giants draftee to their practice squad a month ago, doing so shortly after the Broward County State Attorney’s Office (Fla.) dropped armed robbery charges against him. Baker’s arrest on several felony charges led to the Giants cutting him.

Baker struggled as a rookie, allowing a 116.2 passer rating on passes thrown his way and allowing 61% of those throws to be completed. Pro Football Focus graded him as one of its worst defenders in 2019. The Chiefs are taking a chance on the former Georgia prospect, who was facing prison time until recently.

Baker was alleged to have committed armed robbery a party at gunpoint in May. Originally, Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar was charged as his accomplice, but the Broward State Attorney’s office declined to pursue charges against him. The story only became stranger from there, including payoff allegations against attorney Michael Grieco, who was once representing Dunbar. But both cornerbacks have moved forward with their respective careers.

Kansas City also promoted Stefen Wisniewski and linebacker Emmanuel Smith and activated wideout Byron Pringle from IR.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/12/20

December 12th, 2020 at 4:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Here is Saturday’s usual barrage of minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jachai Polite; Polite tested positive for the coronavirus, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (via Twitter)

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Chiefs To Promote OL Stefen Wisniewski

December 5th, 2020 at 4:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two weeks after rejoining the Chiefs as a practice squad stash, Stefen Wisniewski is on track to suit up for the team. The Chiefs are promoting their 2019 playoff starter ahead of their Week 13 game.

An injury derailed Wisniewski’s time with the Steelers, who reached an injury settlement with him to move him off their IR list. Now, Wisniewski will attempt to help Pittsburgh’s challenger for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

Wisniewski was not on the Chiefs team that claimed home-field advantage two years ago, but the productive journeyman played a key role on last season’s team. The Chiefs turned to the former Raiders, Jaguars and Eagles interior O-lineman as one of their starting guards in each of the team’s three playoff games. Wisniewski has started in two Super Bowls.

The 31-year-old blocker may now profile as depth behind interior starters Andrew Wylie, Nick Allegretti and Daniel Kilgore. But it certainly would not surprise if Wisniewski commandeered one of Kansas City’s first-string slots. If nothing else, the 2020 season has required depth more than any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chiefs also placed linebacker Dorian O’Daniel on IR and promoted defensive back Chris Lammons.

Chiefs Expected To Sign Stefen Wisniewski

November 21st, 2020 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:16pm: The Chiefs are expected to bring back Wisniewski. He will join Kansas City’s practice squad, Terez Paylor of Yahoo.com tweets. This is, of course, pending COVID-19 protocols, but the Chiefs are expected to have an experienced O-lineman back in a game uniform soon.

3:45pm: A Chiefs-Stefen Wisniewski reunion could soon be in the cards. The defending Super Bowl champions are hosting the veteran interior offensive lineman on a visit, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).

Wisniewski played a pivotal role for the Chiefs last season, emerging as a starter down the stretch. He started in each of Kansas City’s three playoff games at guard. However, Wisniewski could not stick with his hometown team this season. The Steelers cut him earlier this month.

After his offseason signing with Pittsburgh, Wisniewski landed on the Steelers’ IR in September. He has played one game this season. The well-traveled blocker played in 11 regular-season contests last season and became a valuable contributor in the postseason. Wisniewski, 31, has made 104 career starts — for the Raiders, Jaguars, Eagles, Chiefs and Steelers — at guard and center in a 10-year career.

Kansas City’s offensive line has continually required tweaks this year. Longtime guard starter Laurent Duvernay-Tardif became the NFL’s first COVID-19 NFL opt-out, and the Chiefs lost his replacement — Kelechi Osemele — for the season in October. The Chiefs are also down All-Pro right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. With Schwartz out, the Chiefs have used guard option Mike Remmers at right tackle. A Wisniewski return would help fill the team’s experience void inside.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/7/20

November 7th, 2020 at 5:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Steelers Place OL Stefen Wisniewski On IR

September 18th, 2020 at 2:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Entering Week 2, the Steelers remain shorthanded at guard. All-Pro David DeCastro will miss a second straight game, and Stefen Wisniewski looks likely to be out much longer.

The Steelers placed Wisniewski on IR Friday. He will not be able to return to action until at least Week 5. The 10th-year veteran interior lineman is sidelined with a pectoral injury. Wisniewski is expected to return at some point this season, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero noting the injury is not expected to require surgery (Twitter link).

Wisniewski signed with the Steelers earlier this offseason, doing so after working as a Chiefs starter in their three playoff games. The two-time Super Bowl starter was set to replace retired left guard Ramon Foster and started in Week 1. But the Steelers have been forced to make other plans at the position to start the Season. Fourth-round rookie Kevin Dotson is expected to replace him at guard against the Broncos, Mike Tomlin said.

Pittsburgh already lost right tackle Zach Banner, so the team will be down to just two O-line starters — center Maurkice Pouncey and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva — on Sunday. DeCastro is battling a knee injury.

The Steelers will also promote tackle Derwin Gray, a 2019 seventh-round pick, from the practice squad, the team announced.

Steelers To Sign Stefen Wisniewski

March 19th, 2020 at 8:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers have agreed to a two-year deal with offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Pittsburgh had been searching for a new face at left guard, where Ramon Foster had been a linchpin since the 2009 campaign. Foster retired from the NFL earlier this week, leaving a massive hole along the Steelers’ front five. Now, Wisniewski will likely line up at guard in between left takcle Alejandro Villanueva and center Maurkice Pouncey.

Wisniewski, who turns 31 years old later this week, has played in 134 games since entering the NFL as a second-round Raiders draft pick in 2011. The Penn State alum appeared in 46 games with the Eagles from 2016-18 and won a Super Bowl, then joined the Chiefs last October for another Super Bowl run. Wisniewski started the final two games of the regular season for Kansas City before starting every game during the playoffs.

The Jets, whose interest in Wisniewski was reported earlier this week, made an “earnest effort” to sign the veteran guard, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. But Wisniewski, a Pittsburgh native, ultimately decided on a homecoming.

Jets Targeting Interior Linemen Stefen Wisniewski, Greg Van Roten

March 16th, 2020 at 7:41pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Jets have swung and missed on a handful of top free agents already, forcing them to shift their attention to some of their backup plans. They were reportedly in on guard Graham Glasgow, before he signed a big deal with the Broncos.

New York still needs help on the offensive line, and they’re now targeting a couple of lower-profile options along the interior. The Jets have “turned their attention” to guard/center Stefen Wisniewski and guard Greg Van Roten, sources told Connor Hughes of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Jets were also interested in guard Joe Thuney, before the Patriots shockingly franchise-tagged him this morning.

Both Wisniewski and Van Roten are longtime veterans with a lot of starting experience. Neither are elite players by any means, but they’re both respectable options. Wisniewski was a full-time starter with the Raiders and Jaguars his first five years in the league, then became a top reserve with the Eagles and started at least six games in each of his three years in Philly. He spent last year with the Chiefs and only started twice, his first season with less than six starts.

Van Roten entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2012, but didn’t start a game until 2018 when he unexpectedly became Carolina’s starter at left guard and started all 16 games. He started all 11 that he appeared in this past year. As Hughes points out, he’s done quite well in pass protection.

Chiefs To Sign Stefen Wisniewski, Terrell McClain

October 8th, 2019 at 6:10pm CST by Rory Parks

The Chiefs, who are dealing with injuries to their O-line, are signing veteran Stefen Wisniewski, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets that the club is also adding a vet to their defensive front, Terrell McClain.

Wisniewski spent the last three years with the Eagles, who declined his 2019 option in March. He drew some interest on the open market, and Philly re-signed him in May, but he did not survive final cutdowns.

The 6’3″, 305-pound lineman offers experience at both guard and center and will, at the very least, provide veteran competence off the bench. He may also get a spot start here and there, and he has started at least six games per season since entering the league in 2011.

McClain, meanwhile, spent 2018 with the Falcons and appeared in 13 games. He hooked on with the Cardinals this offseason but, like Wisniewski, was cut at the end of August. He will likely become part of the Chiefs’ D-line rotation right away given that Chris Jones and Xavier Williams are both expected to miss time.

Both men have become NFL journeymen. The Chiefs will be McClain’s seventh team and Wisniewski’s fourth.

The Chiefs have also waived T Ryan Hunter.

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