Hitchens was released by Kansas City on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

Hitchens tallied 80 tackles (41 solo) over 15 appearances in 2021. The veteran linebacker carried a $12.6 million cap hit for 2022, so Kansas City will save $8.4 million in cap space by releasing him, per Lukas Weese of the Athletic. The 2014 fourth-round pick of the Cowboys was a consistent producer in all four of his seasons with Kansas City and figures to draw interest in free agency this offseason.