53 Anthony Hitchens LB

Hitchens plans to sign with the Chiefs for five years and approximately $45 million, Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports.

A 2014 fourth-round pick, Hitchens had at least 67 tackles each of his four seasons in Dallas, including a career-best 84 in only 12 games last year. The size of the contract suggests he's ticketed for a three-down role, which typically wasn't the case during his time with the Cowboys. The 25-year-old will replace Derrick Johnson in the middle of the Kansas City defense.

Hitchens finished the regular season with a career-high 84 tackles (55 solo), two passes defended and a forced fumble in 12 games.

Despite missing the first four games of the season with a knee injury, Hitchens still put together a strong campaign as the Cowboys' middle linebacker. He'll be a free agent in the offseason and it's unclear at this point how much effort the team will put into trying to bring him back, as players like DeMarcus Lawrence will be bigger priorities to re-sign and Jaylon Smith could be ready to step into a starting role in 2018, but wherever Hitchens lands he should be a tackling machine, although his minimal contributions in other categories put him on the fringe of IDP utility.

Hitchens (knee) won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Hitchens sustained the injury in Sunday's win over the Raiders but was able to finish the week with a full practice Friday to avoid the questionable tag. The Cowboys' middle linebacker should see his usual workload with the team's playoff hopes on the line Week 16.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Monday that he's optimistic that Hitchens, who sustained a knee injury in Sunday's win over the Raiders, will be able to play Week 16 against the Seahawks, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Hitchens departed in the final minute of Sunday's game with the injury, finishing the night with six tackles (one solo). Those who had rolled with Hitchens in IDP formats were likely disappointed with the outing, especially after the linebacker racked up a combined 29 stops over the past two games. Assuming the knee issue doesn't prove too problematic as the Week 16 matchup approaches, Hitchens should have a decent chance at reaching double-digit tackles again.

Hitchens collected 14 tackles in Sunday's win over the Giants.

Despite the fact that Sean Lee returned from his hamstring injury and got 18 tackles of his own, Hitchens remained productive, hitting double digits in tackles for the second straight game and third time in five weeks. The Cowboys' middle linebacker could see plenty of action again in Week 15 on the road against Marshawn Lynch and the Raiders offense.