Linebacker Josh Uche, a second-round pick in the 2020 draft, was traded by the Patriots to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft. Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs acquired pass rusher Josh Uche from the New England Patriots for a 2026 sixth-round pick on Monday, giving one of the NFL’s best defenses an upgrade at a position where it was looking for some help.

Uche will take the roster spot of tight end Jody Fortson, who is headed for injured reserve with a knee injury.

Uche was a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2020 and has 20 1/2 sacks over parts of five seasons, including two through the first seven games of this season. His best year was in 2022, when Uche had 11 1/2 sacks and forced two fumbles in 15 games.

He joins a pass rush group in Kansas City that is led on the edge by George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and features defensive tackle Chris Jones providing pressure up the middle. Charles Omenihu is expected to return soon from a torn ACL that has kept him out all season, and that should further help the pass rush.

The deal is the second significant trade for Kansas City in less than a week. The Chiefs sent a conditional fifth-round pick to the Titans last week for DeAndre Hopkins, who had two catches for 29 yards in Sunday’s 27-20 win over the Raiders.

BEARS: Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson apologized to his teammates for motioning to the crowd and having his back turned when the Washington Commanders snapped the ball on their winning Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired and vowed not to do it again.

“I let the moment get too big and it’s something that can never happen again and won’t ever happen again,” he said Monday, a day after a gut-wrenching 18-15 loss.

Stevenson addressed the team without prompting during a meeting on Monday. He said he wanted to let the other players know he realized he “let them down.”

Coach Matt Eberflus said any discipline would be handled in house.

RAMS: Cornerback Tre’Davious White has been given permission by the team to seek a trade, Coach Sean McVay says.

McVay also said Monday that the Rams (3-4) would like to keep the two-time Pro Bowl selection. White signed a one-year, $4.25 million deal with Los Angeles as a free agent last summer after spending his first seven NFL seasons with Buffalo.

JAGUARS: Receiver Christian Kirk will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his left collarbone. Coach Doug Pederson said Kirk had surgery Monday morning and will be placed on injured reserve.

BROWNS: Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was released from the hospital Monday after suffering a neck injury late in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over Baltimore when he took a blow to the head and neck area while assisting on a tackle of Ravens running back Derrick Henry.