Per Dani Welniak, Former Rice Football Jack Fox has been released by the Kansas City Chiefs. What’s next for Fox in his NFL journey?
The NFL is a tough business, particularly for specialists. While wide receivers and offensive lineman view for more than 100 starting jobs and dozens of other backup roles, there are only so many special teams positions open at any one time.
Jack Fox finds himself in the midst of that unfortunate roster crunch. Competing with NFL vet Dustin Colquitt in Kansas City, Fox held his own, matching the long-time pros leg throughout the preseason. When it came time for the Chiefs to make a decision, they opted for the guy that’s been around for a decade.
More: Owls fall short of upset, drop heartbreaker to Army
That puts Fox in an uncomfortable state of limbo, for now. After his release from the Chiefs, Fox was put on waivers. Teams will have until Sunday at 12:00 p.m. ET to claim Fox and other players off waivers before teams will begin to construct their practice squads.
As he demonstrated during the preseason, the talent is there for Fox to take another run at a full-time gig. Here are a few things to keep a look on over the weekend.
1. Teams need punters
Kansas City was forced to make a decision between two good punts. Not every NFL squad is that fortunate, and that bodes well for Fox. Teams like the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers had particularly suspect punting games. It’s well within the realm of possibility that Fox is signed to a team like that and given another chance to win a starting job as early as this season.
2. The Chiefs aren’t off limits
It’s also possible that Kansas City liked what they saw in their rookie punter. The extended audition through the preseason might not have been enough for him to win the job outright, but the Chiefs may be open to keeping a close eye on Fox to see how he develops throughout the season. Another team could claim him from the practice squad or he could get another shot at battling Colquitt in the future.
3. Injuries and performance issues
There’s no circumstance where anyone would root for a player to be hurt, but the NFL is a dangerous business. The same 32 punters who begin the year might not make it through the season healthy, opening the door for others like Fox. Beyond that, those who remain healthy might not perform to expectations.
Similar possibilities exist for Fox’s former teammate, Austin Walter, who was released by the 49ers this weekend.
