The Kansas City Chiefs released wide receivers Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins on Tuesday.
According to the Associated Press, the Chiefs will save almost $5 million in salary cap space by releasing Avery and Jenkins. Linebacker Justin Houston and center Rodney Hudson are eligible for free agency. However the Chiefs want to have them back. Houston could be franchised if a deal isn’t reached. If he is franchised then he would have a one-year deal that would be worth about $13 million, but the Chiefs want a long-term deal. Hudson is another franchise option if a deal is reached with Houston. The Chiefs have until March 2 to use the franchise tag.
Avery signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs in 2013. He played in just six games last year due to injuries, and had 15 receptions for 176 yards and lost one fumble, according to Sports Illustrated. In two seasons with the Chiefs Avery had 55 receptions for 772 yards and two touchdowns.
Jenkins was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. He was acquired by the Chiefs in a trade in 2013. With the Chiefs he played in just 25 games. Those games that he played were while Avery was out due to injuries. In three seasons in the NFL Jenkins has just 17 receptions for 223 yards.
The Chiefs have struggled on offense in recent seasons. Over the last four seasons they haven’t finished higher than 21st in the NFL in total offensive yards. Last year they became the first team since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to not have a touchdown scored by a wide receiver. The Chiefs were 9-7 last year.