As the NFL's 53-man roster cut deadline approached, teams across the league faced the difficult task of trimming their rosters from 90 players to 53. Designed to finalize their rosters ahead of the upcoming season, the deadline saw some notable and surprising cuts.
Baltimore Ravens Roster Shake-Up
The Baltimore Ravens made significant moves, releasing numerous players across various positions. Among the wide receivers, Sean Ryan, Russell Gage, and Anthony Miller found themselves without a team. In addition to this, tight ends Mike Rigerman, Riley Sharp, Qadir Ismail, and Scotty Washington were also let go. The team didn't stop there, further pruning their roster by cutting offensive linemen Tashawn Manning and Darrell Simpson, along with defensive lineman Tramel Walthour, punter Jack Browning, cornerback Damarion "Pepe" Williams, quarterback Emory Jones, and running back Chris Collier.
Broncos and Packers Make Key Decisions
The Denver Broncos cut linebackers Jonas Griffith and Jaylon Allen, as well as wide receiver Jalen Virgil. These decisions highlighted the team's confidence in their remaining squad and their commitment to making tough choices.
Similarly, the Green Bay Packers made several cuts, releasing offensive lineman Royce Newman and offensive tackle Caleb Jones. The Packers also parted ways with quarterbacks Michael Pratt and Sean Clifford, signaling a clear direction for their upcoming season. Additional releases included kicker Anders Carlson, wide receivers Jalen Wayne and Samori Toure, and defensive lineman Kenneth Odumegwu.
Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders Announce Cuts
The Houston Texans made moves of their own, cutting cornerbacks Mike Ford, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and C.J. Henderson. In a further effort to streamline their roster, the Texans also released wide receivers Noah Brown and Quintez Cephus, safety Desmond King, quarterback Tim Boyle, and wide receiver Jaden Janke.
For the Las Vegas Raiders, the roster deadline meant releasing quarterbacks Carter Bradley and Nathan Peterman. Additional cuts included wide receiver Jeff Foreman and defensive back Wood Governor, aligning with the Raiders' strategy heading into the season.
Saints, Jets, and Eagles Trim Their Rosters
The New Orleans Saints were similarly active, cutting defensive end Niko Lalos, wide receivers Samson Nacua and Equanimeous St. Brown, and linebacker Khaleke Hudson. The team also let go of punter Lou Hedley, safeties Roderic Teamer, Lawrence Johnson, Ugo Amadi, and Johnathan Abram, and kicker Charlie Smyth. Further changes involved defensive lineman Jack Heflin, offensive linemen Josiah Ezirim, Tremayne Anchrum, Shane Lemieux, center Sincere Haynesworth, and defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat.
The New York Jets contributed to the day's flurry by cutting defensive back Tre Swilling, running back Xavian Valladay, and tight end Neal Johnson. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles made notable cuts, including wide receiver Parris Campbell and quarterback Will Grier. They also released tight ends E.J. Jenkins and C.J. Uzomah, defensive back Parry Nickerson, and guard Max Scharping.
Seahawks and Commanders Complete Their Cuts
Over in Seattle, the Seahawks cut tight ends Tyler Mabry and Michael Ezeike, wide receivers D'Wayne Eskridge and Easop Winston, and defensive ends DeVere Levelston and Jamie Sheriff. Additionally, the team 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 Washington Commanders made significant roster changes as well, 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, and running backs Chris Rodriguez and Michael Wiley. In a final round of cuts, cornerbacks Chigozie Anusiem, A.J. Woods, Nick Whiteside II, Tariq Castro-Fields, and James Pierre, along with guard Julian Good-Jones, center J.C. Hassenauer, linebacker Bo Bauer, defensive back Ben Nikkel, and kicker Riley Patterson were all let go.
By the end of the day, all NFL teams had finalized their initial 53-man rosters, significantly shaping the composition and strategy of their squads for the season ahead.