Month: August 2025

Chiefs Cut 34 Players, Settle On 53-Man Roster

The defending AFC champs have set their 53-man roster. The Chiefs announced the following moves:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on reserve/NFI:

Placed on injured reserve:

Placed on injured reserve (designated for return):

On the defensive side of the ball, Cam Jones was a somewhat surprising cut after getting into all 34 games for the Chiefs over the past two years. A former UDFA, Jones has seen the majority of his playing time on special teams, but he still got into 161 defensive snaps for Kansas City between 2023 and 2024. Over the span, the linebacker has collected 36 tackles. The team also moved on from veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel, who started seven of his 17 appearances for Kansas City in 2024.

On the other side of the ball, the team dropped 2024 preseason standout Carson Steele. The UCLA product had a brief chance to show his stuff immediately following Isiah Pacheco‘s injury, but a persistent fumbling issue had him tumbling down the depth chart. Steele ultimately finished his rookie season with 209 yards from scrimmge on 63 touches.

Rams Cut Derion Kendrick, Move To 53

Here is how the Rams trimmed their roster to 53 by today’s deadline:

Released:

Waived/injured:

Waived:

Previously a Kyren Williams backup, Rivers had been on the Rams’ 53-man roster throughout last season, playing in all 17 games for the team. But the team drafted Jarquez Hunter in the fourth round this year. Hunter joins Williams and 2024 third-round pick Blake Corum in a three-man backfield currently.

Kendrick started 18 games between 2022 and ’23, re-signing with the Rams in June. In between, however, the young cornerback suffered an ACL tear that sidetracked his career. Kendrick went down in July 2024. The Rams already waived Kendrick and then re-signed him, making it possible they will opt to continue this relationship via a practice squad offer. Sixteen players comprise modern NFL P-squads, but Kendrick being cut is certainly step back for a player who saw a 76% defensive snap rate during his most recent healthy season.

Chargers Place LB Junior Colson On IR; Taylor Heinicke Among Team’s Cuts

The Chargers placed a key defender on season-ending IR and made a quarterback decision. Here are the Bolts’ moves to reach the 53-man roster limit:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on IR:

Placed on IR (return designation):

It is not known what injury Colson suffered — teams do not have to disclose injuries until Week 1 — but this is a significant setback for the former Jim Harbaugh Michigan pupil. Colson entered training camp with a chance to earn the starting linebacker job alongside Daiyan Henley; instead, he will miss the season. Harris and Leonard will be eligible to return from IR after four games; their IR-return placements drop the Bolts’ injury activation count from eight to six.

It is possible the Chargers circle back to Heinicke, who is a vested veteran. A practice squad stashing could make sense, but Trey Lance is also a vested veteran now. The Bolts are keeping the former No. 3 overall pick on their 53-man roster, while Heinicke’s status is uncertain. The Chargers re-signed Heinicke to a one-year, $2.5MM deal. They are positioned to eat $2MM in dead money due to the guarantees given to their 2024 backup.

Cardinals Trim Roster To 53

The Cardinals announced the following roster moves to get down to their initial 53-man roster:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Placed on reserve/PUP:

First-round defensive tackle Nolen will miss at least the first four weeks of his rookie year. The Ole Miss product is dealing with a calf injury that forced him to miss most of training camp. Another d-lineman, Barrs will hit waivers but stands a good chance at landing on the practice squad if he clears.

The Cards made some surprise decisions in the running backs rooms, disposing of veterans like Carter and Dallas in favor of Zonovan Knight, who hasn’t appeared in a game since 2023. One of the veterans could end up back on the practice squad, as could wide receiver/special teamer Fehoko.

Russell suffered a concussion in training and will now miss the entire 2025 season on injured reserve. Jones and Conner, though, will be eligible to return after, at least, a four-week absence. The two linemen are dealing with knee injuries but may be able to bolster the line later in the year.

Brewer getting cut means the team does not have a long snapper on the roster. Likely, the team has a handshake deal with Brewer that will allow them to place some players on injured lists, opening a spot for him and others to return.

Seahawks Cut 34 Players, Set 53-Man Roster

The Seahawks kicked off their roster trimming with a handful of moves, including releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and trading offensive tackle Michael Jerrell to the Falcons. The rest of the team’s final cuts are below:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on reserve/NFI:

Placed on IR (designated for return):

Christian Haynes should eventually return to the active roster once he’s fully recovered from a pec injury. The 2024 third-round pick got into 16 games with Seattle as a rookie, appearing in 167 offensive snaps and 67 special teams snaps. Despite his early-season absence, the team still moved on from a handful of notable linemen. This includes Sataoa Laumea, who started all six of his appearances with the Seahawks last year.

The Seahawks moved on from a handful of veterans today, including a pair of cornerbacks. Shemar Jean-Charles has appeared in 37 career games, including nine (two starts) with the Saints in 2024. The former fifth-round pick has compiled 29 tackles and one interception. Seattle also moved on from Tyler Hall via an injury settlement. The cornerback started six of his 18 appearances for the Raiders over the past two years.

Ravens Set Initial 53-Man Roster

Every year, the Ravens are one of the last teams to announce their roster moves to get down to 53 players. Finally, via a team press release, Baltimore’s initial 53-man roster is set with the following transactions:

Waived

  • CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
  • WR Jahmal Banks
  • S Beau Brade
  • WR Malik Cunningham
  • G Darrian Dalcourt
  • OL Garrett Dellinger
  • OLB Malik Hamm
  • S Desmond Igbinosun
  • S Keondre Jackson
  • DL Jayson Jones
  • QB Devin Leary
  • OT Gerad Lichtenhan
  • ILB Chandler Martin
  • TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
  • DL Adedayo Odeleye
  • DL C.J. Okoye
  • G Jared Penning
  • DL C.J. Ravenell
  • CB Marquise Robinson
  • OLB Kaimon Rucker
  • C Nick Samac
  • FB Lucas Scott
  • TE Scotty Washington

Released

Waived with injury settlement

Placed on injured reserve (with return designation)

Placed on reserve/NFI

  • OT Emery Jones

Placed on reserve/PUP

The Ravens opted to keep tight end Isaiah Likely on the 53-man roster after his recent foot surgery, indicating that the team expects him back in the first four weeks of the regular season.

Armour-Davis is Baltimore’s most surprising cut. The 2022 fourth-round pick struggled with injuries across the first few years of his career, but had a solid training camp. Baltimore opted to keep undrafted rookie Keyon Martin instead after an impressive showing in the preseason.

Brade, who made the 53-man roster as a UDFA last year, was beaten out by undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery for the Ravens’ fourth safety spot. Brade, a former University of Maryland standout, is expected to return to the practice squad if he clears waivers, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.

Baltimore is also hoping to bring Lichtenhan, a 6-f0ot-8, 328-pound offensive tackle, back on their practice squad if he sneaks through waivers, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

Urban will likely re-sign to the Ravens practice squad on Wednesday in a handshake deal after being cut from the active roster.

Isaac and Wade suffered injuries late in training camp and will have to spend the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve. Isaac’s IR placement cleared a spot for David Ojabo to make the roster despite appearing to be on the bubble in the preseason.

Jones has been dealing with a mysterious shoulder injury that required surgery earlier this year. He has yet to hit the practice field as a Raven and will be sidelined for at least four more weeks to start the season.

Deuce Vaughn, La’el Collins Among Cowboys’ Cuts; Shavon Revel Lands On NFI List

Here are the Cowboys’ moves to pare their roster down to 53:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR (return designation):

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

Placed on reserve/NFI list:

Revel’s timetable has remained murky, but this placement offers some clarity. The third-round rookie cornerback will miss at least four games after being transferred from the active/NFI list to the reserve/NFI list. While the Cowboys had aimed for Revel to play in September, his father’s comment about the ACL rehab effort pointed to a slightly lengthier recovery timetable. Revel suffered the tear in September 2024; he will now be out more than a year since the injury.

Vaughn has been with the Cowboys since they drafted him in the 2023 sixth round, but the team overhauled its backfield this offseason. Dallas signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders before drafting two RBs (Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah). Vaughn could be retained on a practice squad deal, but teams cannot begin assembling their taxi squads until Wednesday.

Overshown is espected to miss most of the season after suffering a major knee injury in Week 14. Turner suffered broken ribs, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. While Turner and Mingo will count against Dallas’ in-season injury activations, dropping the number to six, Mafah will be carried on the active roster and then placed on IR.

Broncos Place FB Michael Burton On IR, Cut 27 Players

The Broncos continued their (mostly) ongoing streak of UDFA rookies making the active roster. Linebacker Karene Reid has made the 53-man roster, marking the 21st time in the past 22 years that a college free agent has made the Broncos as a first-year player.

The rest of the team’s moves:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

  • DT Kristian Williams

Placed on IR (designated for return):

Placed on IR:

Fullback Michael Burton won’t play for the Broncos this season, as Sean Payton revealed that the veteran suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery (per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). The 33-year-old appeared in every game for Denver over the past two seasons, garnering reps in about 17 percent of his team’s offensive snaps and 63 percent of his team’s special teams snaps. Over that span, Burton collected 90 yards from scrimmage on 27 touches, and he’s added another 10 special teams stops.

A number of these players could land back on the practice squad. Assuming they pass through waivers, it sounds like the following players are destined for Denver’s practice squad: wideout Michael Bandy (per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver), offensive lineman Joe Michalski (per Klis), offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton (per Klis), cornerback Jaden Robinson (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston), and cornerback Reese Taylor (per Tomasson).

Titans RB Tyjae Spears Lands On IR As Team Gets To 53

Year 2 under Brian Callahan and Year 1 under Mike Borgonzi can now get underway as the Titans made the following transactions to get their initial roster down to 53 players:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR (designated for return):

As expected, the team’s RB2 will open the year on injured reserve. Spears suffered a high ankle sprain two weeks ago, and the injury will now keep him from playing in the first four weeks of the season.

The absence hurts a run offense that would’ve featured Tony Pollard with a good dose of Spears, as well. Rookie quarterbacks often benefit from strong rushing attacks, so Pollard will have a bit more pressure on his shoulders to help the offense succeed. There was some thought that the team may hold on to an extra running back if Spears went on IR, but both Jefferson and Mims head to waivers with hopes of coming back to the practice squad.

With Siemian getting cut, Brandon Allen, once again, is the last man standing as the primary backup to Cam Ward. With only two passers making it on the active roster, Siemien stands a strong chance at landing on the p-squad, per beat writer Paul Kuharsky.

Siemien joins six other vested veterans in becoming free agents. Jaimes, Oruwariye, Proche, and Watkins all signed veteran minimum deals in an effort to make the team but will now head back to free agency. Proche, in particular, was a close cut to make the team. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Tennessee could try to bring him back on the practice squad, but he’s just as likely to get a contract offer to play elsewhere.

Lastly, Ward’s favorite target last year in Coral Gables, Restrepo, didn’t join him on the initial 53-man roster. Like those mentioned above, Restrepo is another candidate to be retained on the practice squad, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Falcons Cull Roster To 53 Players

The Falcons trimmed their roster down to 53 players with the following moves:

Released

Waived

Placed on injured reserve (designated to return)

Placed on reserve/PUP

Placed on reserve/NFI

  • LB Malik Verdon

Released from IR with injury settlement

Fuller, Harrison, and Henderson all have previous starting experience in the secondary, though Harrison has since converted to linebacker and exclusively played special teams last season. Fuller missed half of the 2024 season due to injury, while Henderson, a former top-10 draft pick, spent the year with the Steelers but didn’t appear in a regular-season game.

With right tackle Kaleb McGary landing on season-ending IR, Parker could be a candidate to have a handshake agreement to be signed to the practice squad and remain in the team’s game day plans for the season. He will be crucial tackle depth with Norton sidelined for at least four weeks (and likely more) after ankle surgery

Bryant was a projected Day 3 pick who surprisingly went undrafted. Though he didn’t do enough to make the 53-man roster, the Falcons are hoping that he can clear waivers and return to the practice squad, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

Though Younghoe Koo is coming off a down year, the Falcons are sticking with the veteran kicker and waived Krieg, a German-born rookie. The Falcons are planning to re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. As an international player, Krieg is eligible to be an extra, 17th player on Atlanta’s practice squad.

Washington is expected to spend his third NFL season on the Falcons’ practice squad, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was only elevated once in 2024 and played exclusively special teams in that game.

Graham started 16 games over his first four years in the NFL but saw his snap share drop to a career low in 2024. He’ll be out for a minimum of four games with an undisclosed injury.