Chiefs will look into D.J. Swearinger, per report

Assuming no one else claims him on waivers, the Kansas City Chiefs could show some interest in adding safety D.J. Swearinger, according to a tweet from Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star.

Swearinger, 27, was surprisingly waived by the Washington Redskins Monday, despite having a season good enough to be named a Pro Bowl alternate. He was let go one day after criticizing his team’s strategy following a 25-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans. 

 “We should have blown them out,” Swearinger said after the loss, via ESPN. “If I’m the D-coordinator, I’m calling zone every time on third down because you got a backup quarterback. Make him beat us. We’re playing a backup quarterback. Why would you put us in man-to-man? We are our best on defense when we look at the quarterback.”

The Chiefs, according to Mellinger, will take a look at Swearinger if he’s available, but it’s not a given they will add him to the roster. The outspoken Swearinger also comes with a background that could possibly be a concern to the Chiefs, which could include a series of reported incidents during his days with the Houston Texans such as allegedly stealing his own truck from a body shop and his pit bull biting the leg of Jadeveon Clowney. 

“The Chiefs will look hard at the freshly cut DJ Swearinger,” wrote Mellinger. “Doesn’t mean they’ll sign him. He’s got the dreaded ‘character concern’ label. But they’ll take a look and this is not a guess.”

Swearinger revealed the news of his release during a radio interview with 106.7 The Fan in Washington on Monday morning. He said on the air that Redskins head coach Jay Gruden gave him word of his release earlier in the day but didn’t explain why.

“I was like oh wow, why? And he didn’t say anything,” said Swearinger. “I guess he didn’t have a response. He just wanted to release me and that was that. I don’t have words for this. I had a Pro Bowl year. I was a captain in year one, and this year I thought I improved on everything and I get a slap in the face and get released. I gave it my all and put my heart into it every single week to do the best I could. I guess it says a lot about the organization.”

The Chiefs could certainly use any help they can get in the secondary and have a former teammate of Swearinger at cornerback in Kendall Fuller (Swearinger was outspoken in his frustration towards the Redskins after their decision to trade Fuller to Kansas City over the offseason). Swearinger (5-10, 205) has 53 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles this season and has 361 tackles, 14 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks, and 39 passes defensed over six NFL seasons.