Kansas City Chiefs waive Josh Shaw

The Kansas City Chiefs announced a roster move Saturday, waiving defensive back Josh Shaw after just over six weeks with the team.

Shaw, 26, was signed on October 2 to add some depth while the safety group was dealing with numerous injuries. He played in four games with the Chiefs with a total of 32 snaps played on defense and 51 on special teams. His high marks in snaps played came against the New England Patriots in Week 6, when he saw 22 snaps on defense and 18 on special teams. Shaw totaled four tackles during his time with the Chiefs. 

No corresponding move as of Saturday evening had been announced by the Chiefs, who currently have four healthy players at safety in Ron Parker, Eric Murray, Jordan Lucas, and Daniel Sorensen. Shaw was left inactive against the Arizona Cardinals last week while Sorensen made his season debut after coming off injured reserve, so it’s possible the decision to part ways with Shaw is an indication the Chiefs are now fully confident in Sorensen’s health to the point where they no longer feel they need Shaw on the roster. Eric Berry also remains on the active roster, although he hasn’t played this season due to lingering heel issues (Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network back in late September reported Berry has a Haglund’s deformity that is affecting his Achilles tendon). Berry has been a non-participant at practice throughout the season and has been listed as doubtful heading into every game, but the Chiefs have consistently said he is making progress and carries a status of day-to-day. 

Shaw (6-0, 190) is in his fourth NFL season after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern California. After transferring to USC from the University of Florida in 2012, Shaw started two seasons for the Trojans at cornerback, then was suspended for much of the 2014 season after lying about how he sustained injuries to his ankles (in a story that drew national headlines, Shaw told police he jumped from a balcony to save his drowning nephew but in truth he jumped from the balcony after police were called following a domestic dispute between he and his girlfriend). 

As a rookie with the Bengals in 2015, Shaw played in 15 games, starting one, and totaled 23 tackles and one pass defensed, with 116 snaps on defense and 250 on special teams. Shaw started 12 of 16 games for the Bengals in 2016 and totaled 56 tackles, three passes defensed, and one interception, then started one of the 16 games he played in 2017 and totaled 36 tackles and three passes defensed. Shaw was waived with an injured designation at the end of the preseason due to a groin injury, then after clearing waivers and reverting to injured reserve, he was waived on September 6 with an injury settlement.