Jaguars Finalize 53-Man Roster
The Jaguars have unveiled their list of cuts and other roster moves which will bring the team to the 53-man limit ahead of today’s deadline. Here is the full breakdown:
Released:
- S Adrian Amos
- QB C.J. Beathard (via injury settlement)
- TE Josiah Deguara
- S Terrell Edmunds
- CB Tre Flowers
- DE Joe Gaziano
- OL Blake Hance
- LB Tanner Muse
- CB Amani Oruwariye
- OL Tyler Shatley
Waived:
- TE Shawn Bowman
- CB Christian Braswell
- RB Gary Brightwell
- WR Joshua Cephus
- DE D.J. Coleman
- WR Elijah Cooks
- CB Erick Hallett II
- RB Jalen Jackson
- OL Steven Jones
- TE Patrick Murtagh (injury designation)
- QB E.J. Perry
- S Josh Proctor
- WR Austin Trammell
- OL Darryl Williams
Placed on IR:
Beathard’s inclusion in Jacksonville’s cuts comes after he suffered a groin injury in the team’s second preseason contest. He was unable to suit up for the Jaguars’ exhibition finale, and today’s move clears the way for Mac Jones to take on backup duties. The former Patriots first-rounder was dealt to his hometown team this offseason, but a competition had been ongoing between he and Beathard. Now, Jones will move forward as QB2 behind Trevor Lawrence.
Beathard will be free to sign with a new team, although he is of course unlikely to find a suitor until he returns to full health. Other veterans like Amos and Edmunds joined Jacksonville this offseason, but they too will now have to search for a new opportunity. Several of the players waived will likely find themselves on the practice squad shortly, but Perry not doing so could leave the Jags in need of QB depth especially if Beathard were to land with a new team.
In 2024, teams are allowed to designate two players to return from injured reserve without naming them to the initial 53-man roster. That is the case for both Robinson and Wingard. The former was selected in the fifth round of this year’s draft and will provide backfield depth when healthy, while the latter is recovering from a knee injury. Both Robinson and Wingard will miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign, and their activations will count toward Jacksonville’s limit of eight for the season.
Steelers To Release WR Quez Watkins
Already facing questions about their receiver depth, the Steelers are parting ways with a veteran member of their pass catching corps. Pittsburgh is releasing Quez Watkins, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Watkins played out his rookie contract with the Eagles before making an intra-Pennsylvania move in free agency. The 26-year-old showcased his potential as a deep threat in 2021, averaging 15 yards per catch and totaling 647 yards. He saw his playing time drop in each of the past two seasons, though, making it no surprise he headed elsewhere on the open market.
The 26-year-old inked a one-year pact worth the league minimum to come to Pittsburgh. The contract only contained $168K guaranteed, but Watkins viewed it as a potential path to a starting role. The Steelers’ WR depth chart is led by George Pickens, though the team traded away Diontae Johnson and released Allen Robinson, creating notable vacancies. Instead of filling one of them, Watkins will return to free agency.
As Fowler’s colleague Brooke Pryor notes, the Southern Miss product did not have a strong showing as a punt returner in Pittsburgh’s first preseason game. Strong special teams play would have presented Watkins with a viable path to a roster spot, but he will now have to look elsewhere for a gig. Meanwhile, questions remain with respect to how Pittsburgh will fill out the receiver pecking order behind Pickens.
Of course, the Steelers have long been connected to a receiver addition in general and a pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk in particular. The 49ers All-Pro continues to negotiate an extension, but a trade agreement is in place with Pittsburgh in case those talks break down. Cutdown season has not produced any updates on the Aiyuk front, though, so for the time being the Steelers’ WR room is led by Pickens, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin and third-round rookie Roman Wilson.
Chiefs To Waive WRs Kadarius Toney, Justyn Ross
In a move which has recently been foreshadowed, Kadarius Toney is being let go. The former first-round wideout is set to be waived by the Chiefs, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
As colleague Tom Pelissero notes, Kansas City had been trying to find a trade partner for Toney. With no agreement coming on that front, the defending champions will move on. After an underwhelming 2023 campaign, the 25-year-old was known to be on the Chiefs’ roster bubble. He will now hit the waiver wire. In addition to cutting Toney, the Chiefs are moving on from former UDFA Justyn Ross, veteran reporter Jordan Schultz adds.
Toney entered the league with high expectations based on his draft status and his highlight-reel ability shown in college. His tenure in New York after only 12 games, however, with a trade midway through the 2022 campaign sending him to Kansas City in return for third- and sixth-round picks. The Florida product had a strong showing in Super Bowl LVII, suggesting he would have a regular role during his first full campaign with the team.
Both Toney and Ross came with baggage, and the Chiefs augmented their receiver situation significantly since acquiring each. A former freshman standout at Clemson, Ross saw a neck injury alter his career. While he recovered, the ex-Trevor Lawrence target went undrafted. Ross also landed on the commissioner’s exempt list last season in connection with a domestic battery arrest.
Toney held a bigger role in Kansas City, but his issues staying healthy in New York carried over. Toney missed time due to multiple injuries, but the Chiefs’ offense fared better with the shifty Florida alum out of the mix late last season. Toney took issue with his Chiefs status last year, criticizing the team for keeping him sidelined during the playoffs. This blast came hours before the AFC championship game, and the Chiefs subsequently made Toney a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LVIII. Nevertheless, Andy Reid welcomed Toney back for the 2024 offseason program. An experiment with Toney as a running back did not pan out, either.
The Chiefs harbored hopes of turning Toney into their No. 1 receiver last year. He fell well short of expectations and played the lead role, with supporting contributions from Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, in a clunky season for Kansas City’s receiving corps — most memorably via the infamous offensive offside infraction that negated Toney’s own go-ahead TD against the Bills. The two-time defending champs signed Marquise Brown, drafted Xavier Worthy in Round 1 and just reunited with JuJu Smith-Schuster. The team also re-signed Mecole Hardman this offseason, crowding a receiving corps that suddenly has Moore in a fringe position.
If Toney goes unclaimed on waivers, the Chiefs will eat $2.53MM in dead money. A team claiming Toney would be on the hook for that total (his 2024 base salary), making it a bit easier to envision another club swooping in via free agency. That said, Toney has flashed brightly at points. He has just been wildly inconsistent, leading to this Chiefs separation.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post
Panthers To Waive WR Terrace Marshall
Known to be on the trade block, Terrace Marshall has not been dealt to a new team. The fourth-year wideout is nevertheless set to see his time with the Panthers come to an end. The team is moving on from Marshall by waiving him, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Marshall has struggled to find a regular role during his time in Carolina, a span which includes the tenures of head coaches Matt Rhule, Frank Reich and the interim coaches who took over after their respective firings. The former second-rounder’s best season came in 2022 when he totaled 490 yards on 28 receptions.
Viewed as a deep threat coming into the league, Marshall sports a 12.0 yards per catch average (albeit on a limited number of opportunities). The LSU product saw his playing time fluctuate over the course of the past three seasons, and in 2023 his snap share fell to 55%. After being a potential trade chip in previous seasons, he was again on the market during the build-up to roster cutdowns. With one year remaining on Marshall’s rookie contract, no suitors emerged.
The 24-year-old will now hit the waiver wire, and teams which were hesitant to offer draft capital to the Panthers may be inclined to put in a claim. If that does not take place, Marshall will become a free agent. A depth role should await him in any case, though his age and deep-ball ability offer upside to any potential suitors. Once initial rosters have been set, a market could develop on a low-cost deal in the event no waiver claims are made.
For Carolina – a team now depending on rookie head coach Dave Canales to oversee quarterback Bryce Young‘s development – today’s move provides clarity at the receiver position. Returning veteran Adam Thielen, trade acquisition Diontae Johnson and first-round rookie Xavier Legette headline the Panthers’ depth chart. 2023 second-rounder Jonathan Mingo is also in place, and he is under team control for three more years. That group will move forward without Marshall in the picture.
Commanders To Release WR Martavis Bryant
Martavis Bryant‘s efforts to return to the NFL resulted in a Commanders deal, but he will not make the team’s initial roster. The veteran wideout is being cut, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Bryant spent part of the 2023 campaign on the Cowboys’ practice squad, but he did not see any regular season game action. Dallas retained him via a futures deal, but his May release left him on the open market. The 32-year-old was surprised to be let go by the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post notes.
Bryant nevertheless remained focused on his goal of landing an NFL roster spot, an effort which he recounted (via the Jhabvala piece) was sparked by a 2023 workout with DeAndre Hopkins. Bryant – who last played a regular season game in 2018 – managed to land a workout with the Commanders not long after being let go by the Cowboys. A second audition (after which he dropped roughly 20 pounds) drew strong reviews from head coach Dan Quinn and Co., resulting in a contract earlier this month.
In the time since that pact was finalized, the Commanders have traded away 2022 first-round wideout Jahan Dotson. That move has led to questions regarding how Washington’s WR depth chart will shake out behind Terry McLaurin, and it seemed to open the door to Bryant making the 53-man roster as a complementary receiver. While he could still be retained via the practice squad, today’s news casts doubt on his 2024 outlook.
Bryant dealt with suspensions in 2015, 2016 and 2018, halting his ability to build off the promise he showed during his Steelers tenure. A one-year Raiders tenure was followed by time in the CFL and XFL before being reinstated by the NFL and given the opportunity to find a permanent gig. That could still take place in Bryant’s case, but the chances of doing so have taken a hit.
Rams TE Tyler Higbee To Begin Season On Reserve/PUP List
As expected, Tyler Higbee will be sidelined for at least the first four games of the season. The Rams tight end is being shifted to the reserve/PUP list, as noted by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Higbee is rehabbing an ACL tear suffered in Los Angeles’ wild-card loss. Missed time at the beginning of the campaign was always a distinct possibility as a result, and the team does not expect him to be fully healthy within the first four weeks of the season anyway. As Higbee continues to recover, the Rams will look elsewhere at the tight end spot.
The 31-year-old has been a consistent element of Los Angeles’ offense during his eight-year career. Higbee has started every game he is played in since 2017, and he has made 61 or more catches three times in a season. While 2023 was a down year in terms of production, his absence will still be felt on offense during the fall.
Los Angeles added Colby Parkinson in free agency on a two-year, $22.5MM deal. The former Seahawk will take on starting duties while Higbee is on the mend, and the Rams’ TE tandem when the latter is healthy will be an intriguing part of their offense. Los Angeles also has Hunter Long – acquired via trade last year – along with 2023 fifth-round selection Davis Allen in place on the depth chart. Those two will see elevated roles at least until Higbee is activated.
The former fourth-rounder is on the books for two more seasons, and he is due $17MM during that span. $2MM of Higbee’s 2025 roster bonus is already guaranteed, so having him back at full strength well before the start of next season will be key from the Rams’ perspective. He should be on the field at some point this year, but for now Los Angeles’ efforts to return to the postseason will take place without him in the picture.
Jets’ Haason Reddick Willing To Stretch Holdout Into Regular Season?
Many recent training camp contract disputes around the NFL have included holdouts from players attached to a rookie contract (and therefore eligible to have fines waived) or ‘hold-in’ efforts by those who avoid financial penalties accruing. Haason Reddick does not check either of those boxes, and his Jets absence continues during roster cutdowns. 
The two-time Pro Bowler has been away from the team throughout the offseason after being acquired via trade from the Eagles. That move, of course, came as Reddick sought an extension Philadelphia was not prepared to authorize. He is therefore a pending free agent after an early effort was made on the part of the Jets to work out a new deal.
Reddick expected his new team to circle back to extension talks, but that has yet to take place. New York has insisted on the 29-year-old reporting to the team before negotiating a long-term contract or an upgrade to his existing pact. A lack of progress on either front prompted a trade request earlier this month, but to no surprise general manager Joe Douglas immediately made it clear it would not be honored. This saga could still linger well past the start of the regular season, though.
Sources told SNY’s Connor Hughes they “genuinely believe” Reddick could continue his holdout all the way through the 2024 campaign. To be clear, the lack of tangible updates on the contract front still means a resolution could emerge at any given time, or Reddick’s absence could stretch only briefly past Week 1. Still, the possibility of a long-term effort to secure a new pact or a trade is notable considering the financial cost of Reddick’s actions this offseason.
The former first-rounder has racked up $50K in daily fines during training camp, and the Jets could dock a portion of his signing bonus as a result of his ongoing absence. Reddick would miss game checks on a weekly basis if he were to remain away from the team during the regular season, and the matter of his contract tolling would come into play midway through the campaign if he continued to avoid reporting. With the Jets continuing to hold a firm stance, it will be interesting to see how far Reddick will be willing to go.
The former Cardinal and Panther has amassed no fewer than 11 sacks in each of the past four seasons, though the Jets’ edge contingent has a number of notable contributors in his absence. Reddick’s arrival would mark a boost to the unit, but when (or if) that will take place is still an unanswered question.
Broncos To Move On From WR Tim Patrick
In addition to running back Samaje Perine, Tim Patrick is no longer in the Broncos’ offensive plans. The veteran receiver will be released if no trade agreement can be worked out, Mike Klis of 9News reports.
Denver is looking to find a trade partner for Patrick, which comes as little surprise. He had struggled with season-ending injuries over the past two summers, however, a factor which should limit interest showed by outside teams. The Broncos’ depth at wideout will lead to Patrick finding a new home in any case.
Patrick, 30, missed the Broncos’ entire Russell Wilson era. He suffered a torn ACL during training camp in 2022 and went down with an Achilles tear last summer. The resilient veteran returned, however, and took a substantial pay cut to stay in Denver. The Broncos used him frequently in their second preseason game, showcasing the recovered pass catcher. Patrick worked as a Bo Nix underneath target against the Packers and scored a touchdown. But the team has made some moves since Patrick was last healthy entering a season.
Part of the Broncos’ Courtland Sutton– and Jerry Jeudy-fronted receiving corps for years, Patrick eclipsed 700 receiving yards by working as a reliable option in an injury-prone position group. Patrick ironically became the most injury-prone of this contingent, and Payton has since traded Jeudy and added other auxiliary options. The Broncos traded up for Marvin Mims in last year’s second round, and they signed Josh Reynolds (two years, $9MM) this offseason. Denver also used fourth- and seventh-round picks on receivers in this draft. Troy Franklin, a Nix college teammate, fell to Round 4; seventh-rounder Devaughn Vele also impressed during camp.
Patrick did well to sign an extension (three years, $30MM) before his injury trouble began. The longest-tenured member of the Broncos’ skill-position corps, Patrick arrived as a practice squad performer during John Elway‘s GM tenure and signed the extension during George Paton‘s first GM year. Paton remains, but Sean Payton effectively calls the shots now in Denver. Only Sutton remains as a Denver receiver acquired before the HC’s arrival.
It would cost the Broncos $6.1MM in dead money — spread over two years — to trade Patrick. The team will only save $1.1MM by making the move. This ratio, and Patrick’s potential to help Nix, illustrates the team’s current optimism surrounding its young receiving corps. It will be interesting to see if a team bites on the veteran following his two missed seasons. An acquiring team would only be tied to a $1.1MM base salary.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Rams Have Communicated With Teams Over Ernest Jones Trade
It was learned on Sunday that Rams linebacker Ernest Jones‘ camp has been given permission to find a trade partner. The pending free agent did not ask to be moved, something head coach Sean McVay expanded on further when speaking to the media on Monday. 
“We never said that he requested a trade. We’ve had communication with his representation and I’m going to leave that in house for now,” McVay confirmed (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “We’re just working through some different things and we’re just going to take it a day at a time… We had communication with his representation, there’s been some dialogue with teams, and that’s where it’s at.”
Teams regularly allow the agents of extension-eligible players to explore the market when negotiations stall out. Jones is a key component of the Rams’ defense, though, so McVay’s admission that trade talks with outside teams have already taken place is noteworthy. One year remains on the 24-year-old’s rookie contract, and any interested parties would likely have an extension worked out upon acquiring him.
Jones – whom The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue notes was absent from Monday’s practice (subscription required) – has upped his market value considerably given his play over the course of his three seasons in the league. The former third-rounder has taken on an increased workload each year, operating as a full-time starter and team captain in 2023. Jones racked up 145 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season, making him a logical extension candidate.
General manager Les Snead made it clear in March, however, that no long-term deal would be worked out during the 2024 offseason. Rodrigue’s latest update on the matter states rather definitively that Jones will be play out the final year of his deal if he is to remain in Los Angeles for at least one more year. A trade taking place between now and Week 1 would, of course, change that financial outlook.
As Rodrigue adds, undrafted rookie Omar Speights has impressed this offseason, and Snead confirmed he will make Los Angeles’ opening roster. The emergence of at least a depth LB contributor could make Jones easier to move from the Rams’ perspective, but the market he generates on a trade and/or an accompanying extension will remain worth watching closely.
Vikings To Place G Dalton Risner On IR
The Vikings will be shorthanded along the offensive line to begin the season. Veteran guard Dalton Risner is set to land on injured reserve, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
As a result of the move, Risner will be unavailable for the first four weeks of the campaign. The 29-year-old made 15 appearances in 2023, his first in Minnesota. That stretch included 11 starts, so being without him for a notable stretch will deal a blow to the team’s O-line.
Risner had a lengthy free agent spell last offseason, landing a one-year pact from the Vikings. He had been angling for a long-term commitment again this spring, but his first-team role did not generate as large of a market as he expected. In the end, the Kansas State product inked a one-year, $2.41MM contract to again compete for a starting gig with the Vikings.
Blake Brandel was the other top option in the training camp competition for the left guard role. Today’s news means he will take on first-team duties at least until Risner returns to full health. The time at which that takes place will be key for the former Broncos draftee, since playing time incentives are present in his contract. His 2025 market value will take a hit in the wake of his absence, but for now attention will be placed on a return to the field.
Center Garrett Bradbury and right tackle Brian O’Neill remain in place as full-time starters up front for Minnesota, and left tackle Christian Darrisaw landed a big-ticket extension this offseason. That trio is set to be joined by Ed Ingram at right guard in 2024, having served as a first-team option during each of his first two seasons in the league. The left guard spot could see competition once Risner is back in the fold, but that will not take place until at least Week 5.