Tag: NFL cuts

Kadarius Toney of Chiefs among biggest NFL cuts

What big names failed to make NFL rosters?

Kadarius Toney was a first-round pick. He wore out his welcome quickly in New York with the Giants. He went to Kansas City and earned jewelry. On Tuesday, he was given a pink slip by the Chiefs.

The petulant wide receiver will be looking for another home.

He had 41 catches in a season-plus with the Chiefs.

Other big names to get sliced were: Desmond Ridder (Cardinals), Mike White (Dolphins), Bailey Zappe (Patriots), Denzel Mims (Jaguars), Phillip Dorsett (Broncos), Joshua Kelley (Giants), Brett Rypien (Bears), Anders Carlson (Packers), and Matt Breida (49ers)

 

Former Falcons QB Desmond Ridder to be released by Cardinals

Former Falcons QB Desmond Ridder to be released by Cardinals, per report

The NFL is a brutal business but it doesn’t get much tougher than roster cutdown day. Hundreds of people will lose their jobs as teams trim their rosters from 90 players to 53 ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. The Atlanta Falcons have cut 15 players thus far, but they still have 22 more to go before 4:00 p.m. ET.

We’ve already seen some notable names released around the league. Former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder has been cut by the Arizona Cardinals, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Atlanta drafted Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Cincinnati. Despite coming into the league as one of the most productive college quarterbacks in NCAA history, he struggled to find his groove at the professional level.

Ridder, 24, started 17 games for Atlanta over the last two seasons. In 2023, he appeared in 15 games (13 starts), passing for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Falcons decided to go in a different direction in 2024, sending Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore.

Ridder struggled in Arizona during training camp and was underwhelming in the preseason, completing 20 of 35 passes for 225 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. Keep up with each Falcons roster move using our 2024 cut tracker HERE!

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When can NFL players return from the reserve/PUP list?

Players who begin the season on the reserve/PUP list have to sit out the first four games of the season before being eligible to return.

When the Denver Broncos set their initial 53-man roster later today, they will have two candidates for the reserve/physically unable to perform list: linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL).

Players who are sidelined with injuries during training camp are eligible for the active/PUP list. Once the regular season begins, those players transition to the reserve/PUP list if they are not yet cleared to play.

Once on the reserve/PUP list, a player must sit out at least the first four games of the season. After four weeks, players have a five-week window to return to practice. Once they return to practice, the player then has a 21-day window to return to the active roster.

If the player does not return to practice within nine weeks, he will spend the entire season on reserve. And if he returns to practice but is not activated within the 21-day window, the player will remain on reserve for the season.

Health permitting, we could see Sanders and Turner-Yell return to the active roster with the Broncos later this season.

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Where are the Rams in the NFL waiver order?

If the Rams try to claim a player who was waived, there are a lot of teams ahead of them in the waiver order

Every NFL team is required to cut its roster down to just 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 27, which means hundreds of players are going to hit the waiver wire after being cut.

Any player with fewer than four accrued seasons in the NFL is subject to waivers, which means any team can attempt to claim him. Teams will have to put in a waiver claim on any players they want to add by 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 28, so they’ll have to decide quickly which players are worth taking a run at.

Of course, just like the draft, there’s an order to all this madness. Teams are arranged in the waiver order based on their 2023 record, so it mirrors the 2024 draft order. That means the Los Angeles Rams will be 19th in the waiver order.

In other words, if they try to claim a player that one of the other 18 teams ahead of them also tries to claim, the Rams will not be awarded that player. There’s also no limit to how many players a team can claim. They just need to make room on the 53-man roster for any players who are added.

Below is the full waiver order, which will remain the order through the first three weeks of the season.

  1. Carolina Panthers
  2. Washington Commanders
  3. New England Patriots
  4. Arizona Cardinals
  5. Los Angeles Chargers
  6. New York Giants
  7. Tennessee Titans
  8. Atlanta Falcons
  9. Chicago Bears
  10. New York Jets
  11. Minnesota Vikings
  12. Denver Broncos
  13. Las Vegas Raiders
  14. New Orleans Saints
  15. Indianapolis Colts
  16. Seattle Seahawks
  17. Jacksonville Jaguars
  18. Cincinnati Bengals
  19. Los Angeles Rams
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers
  21. Miami Dolphins
  22. Philadelphia Eagles
  23. Cleveland Browns
  24. Dallas Cowboys
  25. Green Bay Packers
  26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  27. Houston Texans
  28. Buffalo Bills
  29. Detroit Lions
  30. Baltimore Ravens
  31. San Francisco 49ers
  32. Kansas City Chiefs

Boston Scott set for ‘heavy workload’ in Rams preseason finale

Boston Scott is going to get one last opportunity to earn a roster spot on Saturday against the Texans

The Rams are in the midst of preparing for their preseason finale on Saturday in Houston when they’ll face off against the Texans. As expected, fans will see no starters playing for the Rams, as fringe roster guys will get their final shot at securing a spot on the 53-man roster.

One of the most competitive and intriguing position groups on the Rams roster is the running backs. The top two guys are solidified as locks on the roster, as Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum are set to buoy the Rams backfield. Ronnie Rivers’ spot also seems to be secure.

The remaining depth chart is where things become interesting, with the likes of Boston Scott, Zach Evans, and newly acquired SaRodorick Thompson battling for what will most likely be one roster spot for the taking. Last preseason game for L.A., Evans saw a majority of the workload at running back. This week, it appears it will be Scott’s turn to prove he belongs on the final 53-man roster.

During media availability following joint practice with the Texans, head coach Sean McVay was asked if Scott has been dealing with an injury. McVay said the running back has a a leg contusion and the Rams “wanted to hold him out today because he’s going to get a heavy workload in the game on Saturday.”

Scott was acquired in the offseason via free agency, with many expecting the veteran to be an option for the newly renovated kickoff that has been introduced to the NFL. Scott has been fielding kick returns in the preseason, showing he may be of additional value thanks to his ability to play special teams.

With Evans emerging last week with his first solid game, Scott will need to make the most of this opportunity in order to be on the team when they travel to Detroit to face the Lions on Sept. 8.

1 notable veteran (Melvin Gordon?) who could be cut or traded for all 32 NFL teams this preseason

The NFL roster cutdown date is August 29. Here are the big names who could be looking for new homes by September.

Training camp practices have ramped up to full pads as August hits full swing. Soon, swollen rosters will be trimmed down to the NFL’s regular season limit of 53 players.

That’ll make August 29 a brutal day for young hopefuls and veterans looking  to extend their careers by one more season. Cutdown day will shear rosters nearly in half, dropping 47 players to waivers and then, barring a last-ditch reprieve from a needy team elsewhere, onto the open market.

Each August, a handful of big-name players get caught in that chop. This preseason will give us more of the same — though it may be short on star power.

This year’s list of cut candidates lacks a certain panache. Teams spent wisely this offseason and made their difficult decisions back in March, leaving a dearth of big names who seem destined to be cast back to free agency as summer turns to fall. As a result, some of the players on the list are former starters or high value draft picks who haven’t quite made a lasting impact on the league. Other teams are well managed enough — or simply not in the market of trying to hard in 2023 — that they can hang on to their veterans and wait and see if a trade market opens up during the season.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the potential veteran cuts on which each team will have to make a tough decision this August.

Chargers’ Tom Telesco says he has no plans to move Keenan Allen

Chargers GM Tom Telesco put all the speculations regarding WR Keenan Allen to bed.

With the Chargers currently $20.39 million over the salary cap, there’s been speculation that Keenan Allen could be moved to clear some up. But general manager Tom Telesco all but put the murmurs to bed.

“Keenan Allen isn’t going anywhere,” Telesco told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, IN, on Wednesday.

Allen is scheduled to earn $15.5 million in 2023, with $21.7 million charged against the salary cap. If he were released before June 1, Los Angeles would save $14.8 million against the cap.

In 2022, Allen missed seven games due to a hamstring issue, finishing with 66 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns.

The 10-year wideout has been vital to the Bolts’ offense throughout his professional career. During that span, Allen has caught 796 passes for 9,287 yards and 52 touchdowns.

“Keenan Allen, to me, he’s our Andre Reed. He’s our Charlie Joiner,” Telesco said. “He’s an incredible football player. We have a great quarterback, we need weapons around him, there’s never been any thought of that.

While he is getting up in age, set to be 31 this season and coming off an injury-riddled campaign, Allen is productive when healthy. He is still one of the best route runners in the league. He is a safety blanket to third down.

The Chargers need to add speed to their wide receiver room, but letting go of Allen would do more bad than good to the state of the offense.

Telesco will have some wheeling and dealing to do, as the Chargers must comply with the salary cap at the start of the new league year on March 15. But that will likely be without moving their top wide receiver.

“It’s not tempting to me,” Telesco said at his end-of-season press conference. “Good players make money, and I would rather have a lot of good players on our roster than a lot of cap space.”

Chargers’ initial 53-man roster for the 2022 NFL season

The Chargers have finalized the full 53-man roster to start the 2022 season. Take a look at each player on the active roster.

The Chargers have announced their initial 53-man roster heading into the 2022 season, which kicks off against the Raiders next Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:25 pm PT.

Los Angeles can still make additional roster moves in the coming days via waiver claims and free agent signings. They’ll also begin constructing a 16-man practice squad.

Offense

Quarterback (3): Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel, Easton Stick

Running back (4): Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, Larry Rountree III

Fullback (1): Zander Horvath

Wide receiver (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, DeAndre Carter, Jalen Guyton

Tight end (3): Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, Tre’ McKitty

Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Zion Johnson, Trey Pipkins, Storm Norton, Jamaree Salyer, Will Clapp, Brenden Jaimes

Defense

Defensive line (6): Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia, Jerry Tillery, Breiden Fehoko

Edge rusher (3): Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Chris Rumph II

Linebacker (5): Kyle Van Noy, Drue Tranquill, Kenneth Murray Jr., Troy Reeder, Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga

Cornerback (6): JC Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Bryce Callahan, Michael Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard

Safety (4): Derwin James Jr., Nasir Adderley, JT Woods, Alohi Gilman

Specialists (3): K Dustin Hopkins, P J.K. Scott, LS Josh Harris

Chargers trim roster to 85 players

The Los Angeles Chargers waived five players.

The Chargers have trimmed their roster down to 85 players to meet the mandatory cut deadline, which was set for 1 pm PT on Tuesday.

To get it to 85, Los Angeles waived wide receiver Maurice Ffrench, quarterback Brandon Peters, safety Skyler Thomas, and defensive lineman Forrest Merrill and offensive lineman Isaac Weaver with injury designations.

This is the first of three roster cuts L.A. is required to make.

Here’s a look at the rest of the mandatory cut dates:

  • Tuesday, August 23: Down to 80.
  • Tuesday, August 30: Down to 53.

Giants cut CB James Bradberry who made Pro Bowl under Raiders DC Patrick Graham

CB James Bradberry had his best seasons for Raiders new DC Patrick Graham. Bradberry has now been released.

New head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler have been busy this offseason adding familiar faces. It helps when taking a new job to have people with whom you are familiar. A pretty big name familiar face just hit the market.

The Giants cut former Pro Bowl CB James Bradberry, who spent the past two seasons under new Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in New York.

Bradberry is just 28 years old. He has 15 career interceptions and has had double-digit pass breakups every one of his six NFL seasons, including 18 and 17 the past two seasons with Graham as his DC.

Obviously, this figures to make him a great fit with the Raiders, where he would be an instant starter and upgrade their defense significantly.

Currently, the Raiders’ outside starters figure to be Trayvon Mullen and Rock Ya-Sin. Neither of whom have had careers that make them sure starters. While Bradberry has started nearly every game since he entered the league with the Panthers in 2016.

Whether the Raiders can afford him right now is the question. Right now, they have around $5 million in cap space. They will free up a lot of money in a few weeks with June 1 designations placed on Cory Littleton and Carl Nassib.

Bradberry figures to have many suitors, one of whom was said to be the Chiefs when the Giants were trying to trade him. This means, should the Raiders NOT sign Bradberry, they could then be looking at facing him twice next year.

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