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Chiefs Sign Former Jaguars First-Round Pick to Their Practice Squad, per Source

Kansas City, Mo. — Sept. 23, 2025. The Kansas City Chiefs are signing veteran safety Darnell Savage to their practice squad pending a physical, according to a league source with direct knowledge of the agreement. The move has not appeared on the NFL’s daily transaction wire, and the club has not announced it publicly. The source requested anonymity because the deal is not yet official.

A 2019 first-round pick, Savage spent five seasons with Green Bay before departing in 2024. He joined Jacksonville last year, logging starter snaps in the secondary and contributing on special teams before his release earlier this week. A move to Kansas City offers a fresh look for a versatile defensive back whose range and closing speed fit the league’s trend toward multi-role safeties.
In a brief statement, Savage underscored his mindset about the change: “THE JAGUARS GAVE UP ON ME, BUT THE CHIEFS SAW MY VALUE RIGHT AWAY. THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TEAM THAT DOUBTS YOU AND A TEAM THAT BUILDS CHAMPIONS. TODAY I’M PROUD TO WEAR THE RED AND GOLD.”

For the Chiefs, a practice-squad agreement provides cost-controlled depth and flexibility as the secondary navigates early-season injuries and matchup-specific plans. Under standard rules, a veteran on the practice squad can be elevated up to three times to the active roster for game day without immediately requiring a full 53-man contract. If Savage practices well, a promotion becomes a straightforward next step; if not, Kansas City retains roster and cap agility.

Savage is expected to complete his physical and finalize paperwork in the coming days. Any corresponding transaction to open a practice-squad slot would be announced once the deal is official.

 
 

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NFL Suspends Entire Officiating Crew Led by Craig Wrolstad After Controversial Finish in Seahawks–Buccaneers Game
October 8, 2025 – Seattle, WA The NFL has officially suspended referee Craig Wrolstad and his entire officiating crew following the explosive fallout from Sunday’s Seattle Seahawks vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup — a 38–35 thriller marred by a string of controversial calls that fans say “handed the game” to Tampa Bay.   According to official NFL.com and ESPN data, the suspended crew — known as Crew 12 for the 2025 season — consisted of: Referee: Craig Wrolstad (#4) – Lead referee, responsible for major penalties such as pass interference and roughing the passer. Known for high penalty frequency (13.5 penalties/game in 2024). Umpire: Brandon Cruse (#45) – Oversaw the line of scrimmage, false starts, and holding infractions. Down Judge: Danny Short (#113) – Marked downfield yardage and sideline progress. Line Judge: Brett Bergman (#91) – Responsible for out-of-bounds and boundary plays. Field Judge: Jeff Shears (#108) – Monitored coverage plays and pass interference calls. Back Judge: Rich Martinez (#39) – Focused on deep coverage and signaling calls. The decision came after widespread outrage over inconsistent officiating in critical moments, which many believe tilted momentum toward the Buccaneers’ comeback. The crew has been accused of enforcing rules unevenly and issuing “late, selective, and phantom calls” in the second half. 🔥 Controversial Moments Leading to the Suspension 1️⃣ Illegal Man Downfield (2nd Half, 3rd & 12 – Seahawks Drive)The Seahawks were flagged for illegal man downfield on a shovel pass to Kenneth Walker — wiping out a first down and forcing a punt. Moments later, Tampa Bay executed a similar play, but the flag was picked up after brief discussion, allowing their drive to continue. That drive ended in a touchdown by Rachaad White. Fans on X called it “ridiculous inconsistency,” arguing that the call was selectively enforced against Seattle. 2️⃣ Phantom Defensive Holding (4th Quarter – Bucs Comeback Drive)On 3rd down deep in Buccaneers territory, officials threw a late flag for defensive holding on Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, gifting Tampa Bay a first down that led to Baker Mayfield’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard. Replays showed minimal contact, with analysts calling it “incidental at best.” PFF later graded the call as “incorrect.” 3️⃣ Late-Game Holding Calls (Final Minutes)As the game tightened, the Seahawks were penalized four times in the final quarter compared to Tampa’s one — including a questionable holding call after a tipped pass   and a weak illegal contact flag during Sam Darnold’s final drive. The penalties set up a deflected interception and the game-winning 39-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin as time expired. “Refs controlled the second half,” one viral post read. “That wasn’t football — that was theater.” The Wrolstad crew, which had officiated four of Seattle’s last five games, already had a reputation for overcalling offensive holding and inconsistent man-downfield enforcement. The Seahawks were 2–2 under Wrolstad’s crew entering Week 5. NFL Senior VP of Officiating Walt Anderson released a statement Monday night confirming the disciplinary action:   “The league expects consistency, accuracy, and fairness from all officiating crews. After a thorough review of the Seahawks–Buccaneers game, the NFL determined that multiple officiating decisions failed to meet our professional standards.” The entire crew will be removed from active assignments indefinitely, pending further internal evaluation. For Seahawks fans — and even some Buccaneers supporters — the suspension serves as long-overdue validation after what many called “one of the worst-officiated games of the season.” The debate over NFL officiating integrity continues, but one thing is clear: the fallout from Seahawks–Buccaneers has shaken confidence in the league’s officiating more than any game this year.