Jets Begin Roster Cuts
The Jets are the latest team to unveil an early round of roster cuts ahead of the upcoming deadline. Per a team announcement, the following six players have been waived:
- CB Mario Goodrich
- T Samuel Jackson
- TE Neal Johnson
- WR Dymere Miller
- DT Fatorma Mullbah
- WR Ontaria Wilson
Each member of the list will now hit the waiver wire. Usually, a one-day period exists for a claim to be made. At this point on the NFL calendar, however, that timeframe lasts until Wednesday (the day following final roster cuts). As such, each player listed will need to wait several days to learn their fate.
Johnson signed a futures deal with New York in January, whereas Miller and Mullbah were part of the team’s UDFA class. They each received a lengthy look in the organization, but today’s move obviously comes as little surprise as the journey to 53 continues in New York’s case. A spot on the practice squad will of course be possible for any players not claimed next week.
Wilson’s situation will be worth watching. The Florida State product enjoyed a strong campaign in 2024 with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers before attempting to land an NFL roster spot. Provided he reaches free agency by means of not being claimed or signing with the Jets’ practice squad, a trip north of the border could once again be in store.
49ers To Acquire RB Brian Robinson From Commanders
Brian Robinson‘s tenure in Washington is coming to an end as expected. The fourth-year running back will spend the coming season in San Francisco.
The 49ers and Commanders agreed to terms on a Robinson trade Friday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A 2026 sixth-round pick will head the other way as a result of the swap. San Francisco had been in the market for a backfield addition, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Efforts to pull off a move have now paid off ahead of roster cutdowns. Washington will retain a portion of Robinson’s 2025 salary ($3.4MM), Garafolo adds.
It recently became clear Washington was looking to move on from Robinson, who did not dress in the team’s second preseason game with a trade looming. The team’s Dan Quinn-Adam Peters regime has been open to a trade since last year, and with a swap now agreed to it will proceed with its other in-house RB options. Washington has veteran Austin Ekeler in the fold along with 2023 draftee Chris Rodriguez and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has enjoyed a strong training camp.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels led the Commanders in rushing last year, and today’s deal indicates he will once again be counted on as a central element of the team’s ground game. Expectations are high after Washington made a surprise run to the NFC title game during Daniels’ rookie campaign. Robinson will not play a role in the team’s efforts to duplicate that success, though.
Racking up 570 carries across his three seasons in the nation’s capital, Robinson was a key figure on offense with the Commanders. The former third-rounder saw his touchdown total and yards per attempt figure increase with each passing campaign. That included eight scores and 4.3 yards per carry in 2024. Instead of retaining Robinson on the final year of his rookie pact, however, Washington will proceed with a less expensive backfield.
The Commanders will recoup draft capital in this swap, something which is needed given the number of veterans on their roster. For the 49ers, meanwhile, today’s deal marks another addition on offense for the 2025 season. A trade was worked out on Wednesday for Skyy Moore, giving San Francisco a healthy receiver option. Moore, like Robinson, is a pending 2026 free agent.
The 49ers have Christian McCaffrey atop the RB depth chart, and all parties involved will aim for a healthier season this time around than 2024. After trading away Jordan Mason, the team was in position to have 2024 fourth-rounder Isaac Guerendo handle backup duties. Now, he and Robinson will compete for playing time in the backfield (although using McCaffrey and Robinson on the field together could be an option, per Garafolo). Robinson’s market will of course be dictated in large part by the level of success he has with his new team.
San Francisco entered Friday with with nearly $49MM in cap space. Taking on Robinson will eat into the figure, and it will be interesting to see how much Washington retained on his pact to finalize the trade. The Commanders, meanwhile, should see partial cap savings and thus add to their roughly $17MM in available funds ahead of cutdowns. As both NFC teams prepare for the campaign in the coming days, they will do so with differences in their backfields.
Panthers, Taylor Moton Agree To Extension
Taylor Moton‘s tenure in Carolina is set to continue beyond the coming season. The ninth-year right tackle has agreed to an extension, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
This new Panthers accord – which is now official – is two years in length and is worth $44MM, Moton’s agents informed Schefter. $40MM of that figure is guaranteed. Moton was entering a contract year, but he is now on the books through 2027.
Prior to today’s news, Moton was on course to carry a 2025 cap charge of over $31MM. The Panthers maintained a level of comfort with that figure remaining intact, but an extension always loomed as a means of reducing it while ensuring no free agent departure could take place next spring. Moton saw his ironman streak come to an end in 2024 with three missed games, but he has remained an anchor up front since his second year in the NFL.
Moton, who just turned 31, has been consistent not only in terms of availability but also performance during his Carolina tenure. With the exception of 2022, he has ranked between 13th and 23rd in terms of PFF grade amongst offensive tackles every year during his time as a starter. The Panthers will aim for a continuation of that run over the near term by means of their latest investment up front.
Carolina added a pair of starting guards via free agency last offseason by signing Robert Hunt (five years, $100MM) and Damien Lewis (four years, $53MM). Those big-ticket deals came about with left tackle Ikem Ekwonu on his rookie pact and Moton attached to his $17MM-per-year extension. A raise – coupled with a notable guarantee, although the structure of the contract is not yet known – has been authorized to ensure stability at the tackle spots. That will especially be true if Ekwonu’s desire for a new Carolina deal is met.
In any case, 2025 will see the same starting unit up front for Carolina. Ekwonu and Moton will spend a fourth season together, with Lewis and Hunt manning the guard spots. Austin Corbett won out this summer’s competition with Cade Mays, meaning he will retain his starting role at center. Continuity along the O-line will be a key factor in what the team hopes will be continued development from third-year quarterback Bryce Young in 2025.
At $22MM, the average annual value of his deal moves Moton into a tie with the recently-extended Zach Tom in terms of yearly compensation at the right tackle position. Only Lane Johnson ($25MM) and Penei Sewell ($28MM) are attached to a higher figure at that spot. If Moton can maintain his level of play over the course of his third contract, this latest commitment on the part of the Panthers will likely prove to be worthwhile.
Patriots Begin Roster Cuts
The deadline for final roster cuts looms, and teams often get a head start on such moves with players known to be on the wrong side of the bubble. In the case of the Patriots, that has resulted in 14 players being let go early.
Head coach Mike Vrabel announced on Friday (h/t Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald) that the following players have been cut:
- TE Jaheim Bell
- RB Micah Bernard
- DT Philip Blidi
- DB Isaiah Bolden
- TE Cole Fotheringham
- WR Phil Lutz
- LB RJ Moten
- DT Kyle Peko
- DB Jordan Polk
- LB Monty Rice
- G Tyrese Robinson
- G Sidy Sow
- RB Shane Watts
- QB Ben Wooldridge
Each player listed will be eligible to join New England’s practice squad next week, although anyone cut at this time should not be considered a priority (for the Patriots or any other team) in that regard. Wooldridge being let go means that, for the time being, New England only has two quarterbacks on the roster. Drake Maye will of course handle starting duties, but veteran backup Josh Dobbs may not be a roster lock. Especially in the wake of today’s moves, the QB position will be one to watch closely.
A number of relatively recent draft picks are included in the list of players likely moving on. Sow and Bolden were respectively selected in the fourth and seventh rounds in 2023, with Sow handling a first-team role as a rookie. He made only one start last season, however, and was not positioned to serve as a key member of the Patriots’ renovated O-line under Vrabel and his new regime.
Bell joined New England as a seventh-round pick last year. He hardly saw the field on offense but chipped in on special teams. Rice – who logged a 56% third phase snap share during his three Patriots games in 2024 – represents another core special teams presence who will need to be retained via the taxi squad or replaced in the coming days.
Lions’ Alim McNeill Ahead Of Schedule; Josh Paschal Likely To Start Season On NFI List?
One of many impactful injuries the Lions suffered on defense in 2024 was Alim McNeill‘s ACL tear. The fifth-year defensive tackle continues to recover, and his latest update on his status is a positive one. 
“The way we’re trending now, yeah, we’re definitely ahead of schedule,” McNeill said when addressing his rehab process (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I don’t know timeline-wise, I have no clue. Like a date-wise, I would never say. But I’m feeling really good.”
Earlier this summer, late October or early November was floated as a rough point for McNiell to be back in the fold. The 25-year-old’s injury occurred in December, leading to surgery (which he noted also included a meniscal repair). No setbacks have taken place, though, leading to an encouraging adjustment to the projected return date in this case. General manager Brad Holmes said earlier this summer McNiell could be available earlier than first expected.
If that proves to be the case, Detroit’s defensive line will receive a major boost sometime in the fall. Levi Onwuzurike re-signed on a one-year pact but his ACL tear from last month will sideline him for the entire season. That will leave the Lions without a key presence at the defensive tackle spot and presumably lead to a heavy early workload for first-round rookie Tyleik Williams. D.J. Reader remains in place, but getting McNeill (who is on the books through 2028 thanks to his lucrative extension signed last offseason) back relatively quickly will be welcomed.
In other Lions injury news, defensive end Josh Paschal is not on the verge of returning to game action. Head coach Dan Campbell said (via Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network) Paschal is unlikely to be activated from the non-football injury list in the near future. With roster cuts looming, decisions on injured players and their return designations will need to be made soon. If Paschal remains on the NFI list to begin the campaign, he will be forced to miss at least Detroit’s first four games.
The 25-year-old is entering the final season of his rookie contract, an after handling a snap share of 61% in 2024 Paschal will be expected to remain a key figure on the D-line when healthy. He has only five sacks to his name but a strong showing this year could result in a notable free agent market. For now, though, attention will remain focused on the recovery process.
Colts’ Xavien Howard Turned Aside 2024 Offers; CB On Track For Starting Role?
Xavien Howard‘s time outside the NFL came to an end this week when he joined the Colts. The 2024 campaign came and went without a deal in his case, but that was not due to a lack of interest. 
“I did have opportunities, I just feel like it wasn’t the right situation for me,” the former All-Pro corner said when reflecting on how last year played out (via the team’s website). “So I gave it a shot, I’m like OK, I just can wait [until] next year and hopefully something will happen, and something ended up happening.”
Howard, 32, was released by the Dolphins last spring, ending his eight-year Miami tenure. Few suitors emerged during his free agent tenure, although a midseason visit with the Bengals took place. No deal was worked out, but the visit allowed Howard and then-defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to reconnect. Anarumo is now in charge of the Colts’ defense, so it came as little surprise when Indianapolis became Howard’s eventual 2025 destination.
The four-time Pro Bowler has twice led the league in interceptions during a season, and he has amassed 29 over the course of his career. Howard’s playmaking dried up toward the end of his Dolphins tenure with just one pick in each of the 2022 and ’23 campaigns, although he totaled 24 pass deflections over that span. A return to form after a lengthy absence would be welcomed in Howard’s case since it would help his free agent prospects next spring; it may also wind up being necessary from the team’s perspective.
The Colts’ depth chart for their final preseason contest lists Howard as a starter at the cornerback position. Free agent signing Charvarius Ward is locked into one first-team spot on the perimeter, while returnee Kenny Moore will again be counted on as a key figure in the slot. Indianapolis has already been hit hard by injuries in the secondary, however, leaving the door open to Howard earning a starting gig in short order. Veterans added in August rarely take on more than a depth role with their new teams, but an exception could be in store in this case.
Saints, Browns, Chiefs Seeking RB Trade
As Wednesday illustrated (on several occasions), this time on the NFL calendar often breeds trades. The countdown to final roster cuts continues, and further swaps could be coming soon as a result. 
Running back could be a position to watch on the trade front. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports the Saints, Browns and Chiefs have each been making calls about an addition at that spot. This comes at a time when Commanders back Brian Robinson is known to be available.
No specific suitors have been tied to Robinson yet, but any number of teams could show interest in the pending 2026 free agent. If any of New Orleans, Cleveland or Kansas City were to do so, a swap would become something to watch for in advance of Week 1. The three teams have varying needs regarding a backfield addition.
The Saints will once again have Alvin Kamara leading the way in 2025. A new deal signed last summer has the five-time Pro Bowler on the books for another two years, and $3MM of his base salary for next season is already guaranteed. Any new arrival would be viewed as a backup option amongst the likes of Kendre Miller and free agent additions Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
The Browns elected not to retain Nick Chubb this offseason, and he eventually joined the Texans on the open market. Cleveland’s backfield will once again involved Jerome Ford on a regular basis, and second-round rookie Quinshon Judkins is expected to be available during the regular season. Domestic violence charges were recently dropped against the Ohio State product, presumably paving the way for him to sign his rookie deal (although a league investigation is ongoing). Cleveland also has returnee Pierre Strong along with fourth-rounder Dylan Sampson in the backfield.
The Chiefs still have Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt atop their RB depth chart entering 2025. Pacheco was limited to seven regular season contests last year, and when on the field he averaged by far the lowest yards per carry average (3.7) of his three-year career. One season remains on Pacheco’s rookie contract, and Hunt is also a pending free agent. Kansas City added Elijah Mitchell in free agency on a one-year deal, so any trade could be aimed at adding a more permanent backfield presence. It is uncommon, however, for players with multiple years left on their contracts to be dealt at this time.
Each of New Orleans (roughly $20.5MM in cap space), Cleveland ($19MM) and Kansas City ($17MM) could easily afford a rental addition in the backfield. Over the coming days, it will be interesting to see if one of more of those teams executes a trade acquisition.
Patriots’ Ja’Lynn Polk To Miss 2025 Season
Ja’Lynn Polk had been viewed as a candidate to miss final roster cuts with the Patriots this summer. The second-year wideout’s attention will now turn to matter of recovery, however. 
Polk is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. Multiple specialists were consulted before the decision was made to move forward with the procedure, he adds. Polk will now aim to return to full health in time for the 2026 campaign.
Selected in the second round of last year’s draft, Polk entered the league with high expectations based on his success at the college level. The Texas Tech product transferred to Washington in 2021 and enjoyed a strong finish to his career with the Huskies. His final season produced personal bests in catches (69), yards (1,159) and touchdowns (nine).
During his rookie campaign with New England, though, Polk made just 12 catches on 33 targets. The team’s offense as a whole struggled mightily last season, leading to a slew of changes over the past several months. With a new regime in place, Polk – along with fellow 2024 draftee Javon Baker – loomed as a cut candidate at the end of training camp. Given today’s news, he can simply be moved to injured reserve and retained through next year.
The Patriots are positioned to move forward with Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas as starters at the receiver spot. Rookie Kyle Williams and Kendrick Bourne (presuming the latter is not released next week) are also set to have a role in the passing game in 2025, while undrafted free agent Efton Chism has enjoyed a strong camp to the point where is expected to make the Week 1 roster. A decision will not need to be with respect to Polk anymore, but Baker’s status will be worth monitoring over the coming days.
By the time he is back to full strength in 2026, Polk will have two years remaining on his rookie contract. His Patriots future will presumably be unclear once again at that point, and a decision on retaining him or moving on will be impacted by the performance of New England’s other wideouts this season.
Rams’ Matthew Stafford Returns To Practice
August 21: McVay confirmed on Thursday (via Barshop) that Stafford was a full participant all week without restrictions. Stafford himself said that he’s taking a “day-to-day approach” to his back injury, which he characterized as “something that crept up on me a little bit.” The veteran quarterback will not travel with the Rams to Cleveland for their preseason finale on Saturday.
August 18: Following his second individual throwing session, Matthew Stafford has managed to suit up for practice. The Rams’ starting quarterback participated in his first training camp workout on Monday. 
Last week had been targeted as return date in Stafford’s case. Exercising an abundance of caution, the Rams instead elected to keep him on the sidelines. The 37-year-old was a participant today as planned, though, with ESPN’s Sarah Barshop noting he took part in team drills.
“It was good to be able to have Matthew out there. He did a good job today,” head coach Sean McVay said when speaking to the media after practice (video link). “I think there was a lot of intended information, but there’s no updates. We’re going to keep it a day, and really, a week at a time. But it’s great to be able to see him out there today, and we’ll see how this afternoon goes and tomorrow.”
McVay noted there is no firm timeline in place with respect to how the rest of the week will play out regarding Stafford’s practice participation. He also cautioned (via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times) that today’s encouraging development does not ensure at this point Stafford will be available for Week 1. The Rams have maintained his fifth Los Angles season is expected to begin on time, but a lingering back issue has proven to be troublesome over the course of the summer.
Team and player agreed to another restructured contract this offseason, with the Rams guaranteeing money into 2026. As a result, Stafford’s health for the immediate future but also beyond the coming campaign is key. A separate practice schedule was designed for the former Lion given his injury, but sparse participation over the coming weeks would not amount to much in the way of first-team reps leading up to Week 1.
Veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and former fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett round out the Rams’ QB depth chart. Their practice workloads will be altered if Stafford does indeed return to action on a regular basis, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case. Nonetheless, today’s news marks an encouraging sign for all involved.
Eagles WR Johnny Wilson To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Johnny Wilson will not be available to the Eagles in 2025. The second-year wideout suffered an injury Tuesday and surgery will be required as a result. 
Wilson will undergo a procedure on his knee and ankle, as first reported by Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The surgery will end his season. Wilson missed only one regular season contest as a rookie and suited up for all four playoff games during the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl.
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During that span, the 24-year-old was a part-time presence on special teams while also chipping in offensively. Wilson logged a 34% snap share on offense, and while that workload only yielded 15 targets he showcased an ability as a run blocker when on the field. Instead of aiming to take a step forward in terms of usage and production, Wilson will now need to turn his attention to recovery.
This news comes shortly after the Eagles swung their second trade of the offseason with the Texans. That swap resulted in receiver John Metchie coming to Philadelphia after three years (and two seasons) in Houston. His role as a part-time contributor could increase in the wake of Wilson’s injury. The Eagles’ top three of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson is set to remain intact, but their receiver depth has been dealt a blow.
With Wilson no longer in the picture, 2024 fifth-rounder Ainias Smith and undrafted rookie Darius Cooper will look to earn the remaining spots on Philadelphia’s receiver depth chart. Their fates will be learned next week when roster cuts take place.