The NFL's roster cut deadline, a critical juncture in the preseason, has come and gone, requiring teams to slim down from a bloated 90-player roster to a lean 53-man squad. By 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, front offices across the league had made their final decisions, leaving several notable players in search of new opportunities.
Baltimore Ravens Clean House
The Baltimore Ravens were particularly active during the roster cut-down. They parted ways with a number of wide receivers, including Sean Ryan, Russell Gage, and Anthony Miller. Their tight end group likewise saw significant reductions, with Mike Rigerman, Riley Sharp, Qadir Ismail, and Scotty Washington all earning their release.
On the offensive line, Tashawn Manning and Darrell Simpson were among the casualties, while the defensive side saw Tramel Walthour let go. In the special teams department, punter Jack Browning was also shown the door. Other notable cuts included cornerback Damarion "Pepe" Williams, quarterback Emory Jones, and running back Chris Collier.
Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers Make Moves
The Denver Broncos decided to release linebackers Jonas Griffith and Jaylon Allen, along with wide receiver Jalen Virgil. Each of these players now faces an uncertain future, forced to await calls from other franchises hoping to bolster their own rosters.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers trimmed their ranks by cutting offensive lineman Royce Newman and offensive tackle Caleb Jones. The Packers also decided to let go of quarterbacks Michael Pratt and Sean Clifford, kicker Anders Carlson, wide receivers Jalen Wayne and Samori Toure, and defensive lineman Kenneth Odumegwu.
Texans, Raiders, and Saints Shake Things Up
The Houston Texans made significant adjustments to their secondary and wide receiver corps. Cornerbacks Mike Ford, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and C.J. Henderson were all released, along with wide receivers Noah Brown and Quintez Cephus. Safety Desmond King and quarterback Tim Boyle also found themselves without a team, while wide receiver Jaden Janke rounded out the list of cuts.
Over in Las Vegas, the Raiders released quarterbacks Carter Bradley and Nathan Peterman, further slimming their quarterback room. Additional cuts included wide receiver Jeff Foreman and defensive back Wood Governor.
The New Orleans Saints made a sweeping set of changes, cutting defensive end Niko Lalos, wide receivers Samson Nacua and Equanimeous St. Brown, and linebacker Khaleke Hudson. The Saints also released punter Lou Hedley and several safeties, including Roderic Teamer, Lawrence Johnson, Ugo Amadi, and Johnathan Abram. Kicker Charlie Smyth, defensive lineman Jack Heflin, offensive linemen Josiah Ezirim, Tremayne Anchrum, Shane Lemieux, center Sincere Haynesworth, and defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat also didn’t make the cut.
Jets, Eagles, Seahawks, and Buccaneers Redefine Their Rosters
The New York Jets added to the list of released players by letting go of defensive back Tre Swilling, running back Xavian Valladay, and tight end Neal Johnson.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, the roster cuts included wide receiver Parris Campbell and quarterback Will Grier. Tight ends E.J. Jenkins and C.J. Uzomah, defensive back Parry Nickerson, and guard Max Scharping also found themselves on the outside looking in.
The Seattle Seahawks trimmed their ranks by cutting tight ends Tyler Mabry and Michael Ezeike, wide receivers D'Wayne Eskridge and Easop Winston, and defensive ends DeVere Levelston and Jamie Sheriff. Defensive tackle Mario Kendricks, linebackers Easton Gibbs, Jon Rhattigan, and Devin Richardson, safety Ty Okada, running back George Holani, and defensive back Willie Roberts also failed to make the final roster.
In Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers chose to part ways with wide receiver Sterling Shepard, defensive lineman Eric Banks, and linebacker Randy Gregory, each caught in the grind of roster recalibration.
Washington Commanders Finalize Their 53-Man Squad
The Washington Commanders were not immune to the trimming frenzy, cutting defensive ends Andre Jones and KJ Henry, wide receivers Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Brycen Tremayne. They also released wide receivers Martavis Bryant, Mitch Tinsley, and Davion Davis, as well as running backs Chris Rodriguez and Michael Wiley. Cornerbacks Chigozie Anusiem, A.J. Woods, Nick Whiteside II, Tariq Castro-Fields, and James Pierre also joined the list of cuts. Additional releases included guard Julian Good-Jones, center J.C. Hassenauer, linebacker Bo Bauer, defensive back Ben Nikkel, and kicker Riley Patterson.
As all 32 teams finalize their initial 53-man rosters, the league looks forward to a season full of intense competition, with new faces ready to step up and make their mark on the grand stage of the NFL.