Chiefs place Neiko Thorpe on roster, release Bryan Mattison

The Kansas City Chiefs made a couple of moves on Saturday before their game against the Baltimore Ravens that show what the front office and coaching staff might be thinking. The team announced today that they had released newly signed interior offensive lineman Bryan Mattison and replaced him on the active roster with defensive back Neiko Thorpe.

Thorpe, a product from Auburn, should help bolster a secondary with several ailing members, including Brandon Flowers and Kendrick Lewis among others. It's also a sign that Baltimore's passing attack should be respected with Joe Flacco running up the numbers in 2012.

From the team's release, "Thorpe originally joined the Chiefs as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2012 and was named to the club's practice squad on Sept. 1. He played in 51 games (40 starts) at Auburn, compiling 279 tackles (172 solo), seven interceptions returned for 189 yards (27.0 avg.), 35 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. He was an Under Armour All-American at Tucker High School in Tucker, Ga."