Roster Cuts Shake Up NFL Teams Ahead of Season
The NFL's annual roster cut deadline has come and gone, leaving many players without jobs and teams with their initial 53-man rosters set for the upcoming season. By 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, NFL teams were mandated to trim their rosters from 90 players down to 53, resulting in a whirlwind of transactions that saw numerous players being released across the league.
Notable Cuts Across the League
In Baltimore, the Ravens parted ways with several wide receivers, including Sean Ryan, Russell Gage, and Anthony Miller. The team also released tight ends Mike Rigerman, Riley Sharp, Qadir Ismail, and Scotty Washington. The offensive line didn't escape the cuts either, with Tashawn Manning and Darrell Simpson being let go. Other notable releases included defensive lineman Tramel Walthour, punter Jack Browning, cornerback Damarion "Pepe" Williams, quarterback Emory Jones, and running back Chris Collier.
Denver Broncos also made significant changes, most notably cutting linebackers Jonas Griffith and Jaylon Allen, along with wide receiver Jalen Virgil. In Green Bay, the Packers made headlines by releasing offensive lineman Royce Newman and offensive tackle Caleb Jones. The Packers also cut quarterbacks Michael Pratt and Sean Clifford, kicker Anders Carlson, and wide receivers Jalen Wayne and Samori Toure, as well as defensive lineman Kenneth Odumegwu.
The Houston Texans made a series of cuts too. Cornerbacks Mike Ford, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and C.J. Henderson were released, alongside wide receivers Noah Brown and Quintez Cephus, safety Desmond King, quarterback Tim Boyle, and wide receiver Jaden Janke.
In Las Vegas, the Raiders' quarterback room saw changes with Carter Bradley and Nathan Peterman released. The Raiders also waived wide receiver Jeff Foreman and defensive back Wood Governor. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints cut defensive end Niko Lalos, wide receivers Samson Nacua and Equanimeous St. Brown, and linebacker Khaleke Hudson. The team also released punter Lou Hedley, safeties Roderic Teamer, Lawrence Johnson, Ugo Amadi, Johnathan Abram, and kicker Charlie Smyth.
Deep Changes for Other Teams
The New Orleans Saints also parted ways with defensive lineman Jack Heflin, offensive linemen Josiah Ezirim, Tremayne Anchrum, Shane Lemieux, center Sincere Haynesworth, and defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat. Across the country, the New York Jets saw the departure of defensive back Tre Swilling, running back Xavian Valladay, and tight end Neal Johnson.
The Philadelphia Eagles made the decision to cut wide receiver Parris Campbell and quarterback Will Grier, while also releasing tight ends E.J. Jenkins and C.J. Uzomah, defensive back Parry Nickerson, and guard Max Scharping. Seattle Seahawks fans saw tight ends Tyler Mabry and Michael Ezeike, wide receivers D'Wayne Eskridge and Easop Winston, and defensive ends DeVere Levelston and Jamie Sheriff leave the team. Additionally, the Seahawks released defensive tackle Mario Kendricks, linebackers Easton Gibbs, Jon Rhattigan, and Devin Richardson, safety Ty Okada, running back George Holani, and defensive back Willie Roberts.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced tough choices as well, cutting wide receiver Sterling Shepard, defensive lineman Eric Banks, and linebacker Randy Gregory. Washington Commanders' cuts included defensive ends Andre Jones and KJ Henry, wide receivers Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Brycen Tremayne. Other notable releases from the Commanders included wide receivers Martavis Bryant, Mitch Tinsley, and Davion Davis, and running backs Chris Rodriguez and Michael Wiley. The team also parted ways with cornerbacks Chigozie Anusiem, A.J. Woods, Nick Whiteside II, Tariq Castro-Fields, and James Pierre, and released guard Julian Good-Jones, center J.C. Hassenauer, linebacker Bo Bauer, defensive back Ben Nikkel, and kicker Riley Patterson.
As the dust settles from the roster cuts, every team now looks to solidify their strategies and build a winning formula with their finalized initial 53-man rosters. The next chapter in the NFL season unfolds with these reshaped teams ready to chase their championship aspirations.