Vikings Trim Roster To 53
The Vikings have announced all of their cuts, getting their roster down to 53. Here are the moves:
Waived:
- G Josh Andrews (Injured)
- WR Jeff Badet
- WR Chad Beebe
- TE Blake Bell
- RB Mack Brown (Injured)
- LB Reshard Cliett
- DT Curtis Cothran
- LB Garret Dooley
- C Cornelius Edison
- G Colby Gossett
- TE Tyler Hoppes
- CB Craig James (Injured)
- WR Tavarres King (Injured)
- S Tray Matthews (Injured)
- T Storm Norton
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- CB Horace Richardson (Injured)
- S Jack Tocho
- WR Kendall Wright
- DE Jonathan Wynn
Placed on Reserve/Retired:
Placed on Reserve/Suspended:
Activated from Physically Unable to Perform:
Chargers Cut Roster To 53
The Chargers have moved their roster to 53 by making the following transactions:
Waived:
- DL Patrick Afriye
- K Roberto Aguayo
- TE Braedon Bowman
- OL Brett Boyko (injury settlement)
- CB Tony Brown
- WR Dylan Cantrell
- CB B.J. Clay
- LB Kyle Coleman
- OL Chris Durant
- CB Marcus Edmond
- OL Zach Golditch
- TE Je’Ron Hamm
- S Micah Hanneman
- RB Russell Hansbrough (injury settlement)
- DL Marcus Hardison
- S A.J. Hendy
- LB D’Juan Hines
- TE Cole Hunt (injury settlement)
- DL B.J. Jackson
- TE Ben Johnson
- WR Justice Liggins
- FB Anthony Manzo-Lewis
- WR Andre Patton
- OL Spencer Pulley
- CB Jeff Richards
- DL Steve Richardson
- DL Whitney Richardson
- OL Trenton Scott
- QB Nic Shimonek
- WR Nelson Spruce
- CB Channing Stribling
- P Shane Tripucka
- RB Terrell Watson
- OL Erick Wren
Waived/Injured:
Overall, not a ton of shockers here either. Spencer Pulley was the team’s starting center last year, but now finds himself cut. Rookie sixth-rounder Dylan Cantrell also failed to make the team. The Chargers elected to keep three quarterbacks, keeping Cardale Jones‘ roster spot safe for now.
Dolphins Cut Roster To 53
The Miami Dolphins are the latest team to cut their roster all the way down to the required 53 players. Here are their latest moves:
Waived:
- CB Johnathon Alston
- G Isaac Asiata
- CB Taveze Calhoun
- WR Leonte Carroo
- LB Cayson Collins
- CB Jalen Davis
- TE Thomas Duarte
- S Trae Elston
- WR Isaiah Ford
- LB Frank Ginda
- LS Lucas Gravelle
- C Connor Hilland
- RB Buddy Howell
- K Greg Joseph
- OT Roubbens Joseph
- RB Jeremy Langford
- WR Malcolm Lewis
- CB Tony Lippett
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- DE Claudy Mathieu
- C Mike Matthews
- WR Drew Morgan
- DT Anthony Moten
- WR Francis Owusu
- DT Jamiyus Pittman
- RB Brandon Radcliff
- OT Eric Smith
- OT David Steinmetz
- DE Jonathan Woodard
Waived/Injured
- QB Bryce Petty
- DE Quincy Redmon
- WR Rashawn Scott
Terminated vested veteran
- TE Gavin Escobar
- LB Terence Garvin
- DL Kendall Langford
Overall, not too many surprises. It looks like the Dolphins will be keeping three quarterbacks, with both Brock Osweiler and David Fales making the team.
Jerick McKinnon Suffers “Concerning” Leg Injury
Jerick McKinnon only recently returned to practice, and now could be facing another extended absence. The 49ers running back went down with a leg injury in practice today, and it’s reportedly “concerning” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
The injury “did not look good” a source told Matt Barrows of The Athletic (Twitter link). More details are reportedly coming later when coach Kyle Shanahan has a conference call later today. Until then it’s hard to speculate, but it sounds like McKinnon could miss some serious time.
If McKinnon does end up missing time, recent free agent signing Alfred Morris and Matt Breida will fill in. Shanahan specifically sought out McKinnon in free agency as a pass-catching back he thought would be great for his offense, and signed him to a massive contract.
McKinnon signed a four-year $30MM contract in March, but hasn’t been able to stay on the field since. He missed the entire preseason with a calf injury, and only returned to conditioning drills earlier this week. Any missed time would be a big blow to the 49ers’ new-look offense.
East Notes: Dolphins, Carroo, Giants, Jones, Jets, Eagles, Adams
The Dolphins traded three picks for the right to move up and draft receiver Leonte Carroo back in 2016, but his run in Miami may be over after just two seasons. Carroo faces “mounting odds” to make the team, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Although the team apparently loves the “urgency” he’s shown this year, the crowded receiver depth chart seems likely to push him off the roster. Five receivers are already locked into roster spots, and Carroo is competing with a slew of other players for a potential sixth spot. With just ten catches to his name through two seasons, it looks like it could be the end of the line for the oft-injured former 86th overall pick.
Here’s more from the league’s Eastern divisions:
- The pick the Vikings traded to the Giants for center Brett Jones is conditional, according to longtime NFL writer Howard Balzer (Twitter link). The pick, a 2019 seventh-rounder, was previously reported to be guaranteed.
- The Jets will have a few tough calls to make when they have to trim their roster down. Matt Stypulkoski of NJ.com took a stab at projecting the roster, and had a few interesting predictions. He thinks it “doesn’t make sense for the Jets to trade” Teddy Bridgewater, and that the Jets will keep all three of their signal callers. He also predicts running backs Thomas Rawls, Charcandrick West, and tight end Clive Walford to be cut.
- Meanwhile, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com took a look at key decisions the Eagles will have to make on cutdown day. He thinks there “is reason to think” rookie running back Josh Adams won’t make it through waivers to the team’s practice squad if they cut him. Adams has impressed and been electric at times this preseason, and Shorr-Parks thinks teams might put in a claim on him as he received “plenty of interest” as an undrafted free agent.
More Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/18
More minor transactions from today:
Houston Texans
- Waived: Marcus Hardison
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: Anthony Mahoungou
POLL: Should The Jaguars Sign Dez Bryant?
Marqise Lee is officially lost for the season. The Jaguars’ number one receiver was placed on injured reserve due to a serious knee injury suffered during Jacksonville’s most recent preseason game. 
The group of receivers on the depth chart behind Lee are all mostly young and inexperienced, and Lee’s injury sparked immediate rumors that the team might be interested in Dez Bryant. Although former ESPN reporter Ed Werder heard that the Jaguars were comfortable with their group of young receivers, nothing can be ruled out.
A team that is looking to make it back to the AFC Championship game could certainly use a veteran presence in the receivers room, and Bryant is by far the biggest name left on the market. He recently left his visit with the Browns without signing a deal, and could be more interested in playing for a contender.
The Jaguars’ locker room is already full of big personalities, so Bryant might feel right at home. Should Jacksonville take the plunge and finally be the ones to bring in Bryant? Weigh in by voting in our poll and in the comments section and let us know.
West Notes: Cardinals, Keim, Moats, Raiders, Rodgers-Cromartie
Cardinals GM Steve Keim has returned from his suspension. In a rare move, the front office executive was suspended due to an arrest for DUI. He missed a crucial part of the team’s offseason but has stepped back in seemingly seamlessly despite not being allowed to have contact with the team during his suspension.
After his return, new details are emerging. Keim apparently had to spend seven days on house arrest after serving two days in jail, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN (Twitter link). The organization apparently welcomed him back with open arms as Weinfuss also tweets that team president Michael Bidwill texted Keim at 12:01 the minute after his suspension expired, saying “welcome back.”
Here’s more from the league’s Western divisions:
- Cardinals coach Steve Wilks announced that defensive end Arthur Moats will miss 2-4 weeks with an MCL sprain, according to Mike Jurecki (Twitter link). The former Steeler signed a one-year deal with Arizona back in July.
- The details are in on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s one-year deal with the Raiders. Rodgers-Cromartie will make $1.015MM this year, and will count for $630K against the cap according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN (Twitter link). It’s a big pay-cut for DRC, who was scheduled to make $6.5MM this year with the Giants.
- Scott Bair of NBC Sports is out with his Raiders roster projection. Notably, Bair thinks both Connor Cook and E.J. Manuel will be cut, and that the Raiders will bring in someone from outside the team to be Derek Carr‘s backup.
East Notes: Patriots, Jets, Anderson, Donahue, Giants, Beckham
The Patriots are annually one of the toughest teams to gauge heading into September. They often make a few moves right before roster cut-downs, and this year is shaping up to be no different. With a slew of injuries, releases, and retirements to their receiving corps, a move for a veteran wide receiver is a definite possibility.
Whatever happens, it’s clear the Patriots will likely add some players who aren’t currently on the roster before Week 1, whether by trade or free agent signing. With that in mind, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe took a stab at projecting the Patriots‘ roster, and had a few interesting predictions.
It seems to be a consensus now that there is only a single roster spot available for either Jeremy Hill or Mike Gilislee, and Volin thinks Hill will win the battle. Despite being very thin at receiver entering the season, Volin doesn’t think sixth round rookie Braxton Berrios will make the team. He also thinks the team will opt against carrying three quarterbacks this year, cutting rookie seventh-rounder Danny Etling.
Here’s more from the league’s Eastern divisions:
- One final note on Odell Beckham Jr.’s record deal with the Giants, the base value is actually only $90MM not $95MM according to Albert Breer of SI.com (Twitter link). The deal contains $5MM in incentives in the final two years of the deal that could push the total value to $95MM.
- Receiver Robby Anderson and linebacker Dylan Donahue haven’t been suspended yet, but neither Jets player is out of the woods, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN (Twitter link). “Both cases remain under review” writes Cimini. Anderson was arrested multiple times this offseason and Donahue, a 2017 fifth-rounder, was arrested twice for DWI.
- In case you missed it, the Patriots signed guard Shaq Mason to a huge five-year extension worth up to $50MM.
Chiefs Release Robert Golden
The Chiefs released safety Robert Golden today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
Golden’s agent told Rapoport that the release was at Golden’s request. He also said Golden “didn’t feel like he was getting the opportunity to contribute the way he wanted to.” Golden signed a one-year deal with the team back in April.
Golden came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Steelers back in 2012, and spent the first six years of his career in Pittsburgh. Across 92 games with the Steelers, he racked up 125 tackles, seven passes defended, and two interceptions.
Golden appeared to break the news himself, tweeting earlier that he was “no longer a Kansas City Chief”. Golden’s agent added that “he’s hoping to catch on with another team soon” although it will be difficult for him to make a team this late in camp.