Former Oklahoma standout defensive lineman Ethan Downs tore the ACL in his left knee during a workout in the leadup to training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to a report on Tuesday morning by Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com
The Chiefs defensive end was a “strong candidate to make the roster as depth at edge rusher as well as a multiple phase special teams player,” according to Derrick’s report.
Downs’ devastating injury came during a workout leading up to the official start of Kansas City’s training camp later this week. Chiefs rookies and some other players were engaged in workouts before the start of camp, and now Downs, the second-year player and former Sooners star, appears to have seen his season ruined prematurely before it even began.
After being undrafted last season coming out of Oklahoma, Downs was signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad last August. He appeared in 1 game for Kansas City during the regular season, finishing with 5 tackles and a forced fumble. Downs saw time with the Chiefs on defense and special teams.
Once Downs is placed on injured reserve, Kansas City will likely add another player to its roster to take Downs’ spot.
Downs played at Oklahoma from 2021-24 and was a 2-time second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022 and 2023, right before the Sooners joined the SEC in 2024.
The Chiefs will likely have to get by all season without Downs, but they should still have a strong chance to be the last team standing in the AFC West. Here is what the Kalshi market currently thinks of Kansas City’s chances to rule the division once more after a down year in 2025:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
