Chiefs release Irv Smith Jr. and Louis Rees-Zammit, reducing the number of players to 53

The Chiefs kept four tight ends on their original 53-man roster, but Irv Smith Jr. was not one of them.

Smith was released as the Chiefs made a number of roster moves ahead of Tuesday's deadline, adding former Cowboy Peyton Hendershot to join Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Jared Wiley in that position group.

Smith, who was drafted in the second round by the Vikings in 2019, signed with the Chiefs in the offseason.

Former rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit also failed to make the cut. If he makes it through the waiver list, he will be excluded from the training squad as an international player if the Chiefs want to bring him back.

Wide receiver Nikko Remigio, according to special teams coordinator Dave Toub hit the table for, was lifted together with Rees-Zammit.

The Chiefs also have running back Emani Bailey, linebacker Swayze Bozeman, tight end Baylor Cupp, defensive tackle Neil Farrell, tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, cornerback Kamal Hadden, running back Keaontay Ingram, linebacker Curtis Jacobs, defensive end Truman Jones, defensive tackle Fabien Lovett, Cornerback DJ Miller, tackle Lucan Niang, quarterback Chris Oladokun, wide receiver Cornell Powell, running back Deneric Prince, wide receiver Justyn Ross, cornerback Keith Taylor, wide receiver Kadarius Toney, wide receiver Montrell Washington, safety Deon Bush, linebacker Cole Christiansen, defense Tackle Matt Dickerson and defensive back Tyrie Gillespie released or released.