Bears Activate Jaylon Johnson, Cut Roster Down To 53
The Bears made a flurry of move to trim their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday, per a team announcement, headlined by the activation of Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson from the physically unable to perform list.
Johnson missed all of training camp after injuring his leg during offseason training. Chicago is hoping that he can be ready for Week 1, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, but the 26-year-old still hasn’t returned to the practice field. Keeping him on the 53-man roster suggests that the team believe he has a good chance of coming back in the first four weeks of the season.
The Bears also activated Tory Taylor to the roster in a procedural move. The Australian-born punter was given an international exemption to give Chicago an extra, 91st roster spot during the offseason, but he cannot keep the exemption and remain on the 53-man roster.
Here are the rest of the Bears’ roster moves:
Placed on injured reserve (designated to return)
Waived/injured
- DB Tysheem Johnson
- OL Doug Kramer
- OL Bill Murray
Waived
- WR Maurice Alexander
- RB Brittain Brown
- LS Luke Elkin
- DL Jonathan Ford
- DB Mekhi Garner
- DL Jamree Kromah
- OL Jordan McFadden
- DL Zacch Pickens
- WR JP Richardson
- WR Tyler Scott
- OL Ricky Stromberg
Released
- WR Miles Boykin
- TE Stephen Carlson
- DL Tanoh Kpassagnon
Homer appeared in 10 games for the Bears in 2024, primarily on special teams. He re-signed in Chicago this offseason and will spent a minimum of four games on the sidelines to start the year as he deals with a calf injury, per Biggs. Ogbongbemiga, also a returning special teams ace, will also be out for at least four weeks after injuring his shoulder.
The Bears tried to trade McFadden before final roster cuts, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, but were unable to find a partner and waived the former Charger.
Pickens and Scott are two 2023 draft picks that will not survive the team’s coaching change. Pickett, the first pick of the third round, started three games last year and appeared in six more with minimal production. Scott, a fourth-round pick, started four games as a rookie before fading into the background with just one reception in 2024.
Richardson is a practice squad candidate after a strong training camp, per Biggs. So is Stromberg, according to Adam Jahn of CHGO Sports. The former Commanders third-round pick will provide depth at center behind Drew Dalman and Ryan Bates.
Kpassagnon followed Dennis Allen to Chicago this offseason and signed a one-year deal with no guaranteed money, making him an ideal candidate to be released and re-signed to the practice squad via a handshake agreement. That appears to be the plan, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, which will keep the veteran linemen available for early-season elevations to the active roster.
Commanders Make 30 Cuts, Place G Sam Cosmi On PUP
The Commanders made a massive wave of roster moves this afternoon, releasing 30 players and placing starting right guard Sam Cosmi on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, per a team announcement.
Cosmi, 26, was viewed as a long shot to be ready for Week 1 after tearing his ACL in January. The fifth-year lineman will be sidelined for at least four games with veteran Nick Allegretti likely to start in the interim.
Here are the rest of Washington’s moves:
Waived
- RB Kazmeir Allen
- LB Kam Arnold
- DT Ricky Barber
- WR Ja’Corey Brooks
- TE Lawrence Cager
- RB Demetric Felton
- QB Sam Hartman
- DE Andre Jones Jr.
- WR Jacoby Jones
- DE T.J. Maguranyanga
- WR Tay Martin
- S Rob McDaniel
- G Timothy McKay
- S Ben Nikkel
- T Foster Sarell
- TE Cole Turner
- CB Car’lin Vigers
Released
- WR River Cracraft
- DT Carl Davis
- DT Sheldon Day
- C Michael Deiter
- DE Clelin Ferrell
- T Bobby Hart
- CB Antonio Hamilton
- DE Jalyn Holmes
- WR Chris Moore
- WR K.J. Osborn
- CB Bobby Price
- LB Duke Riley
- S Daryl Worley
Hartman, who signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024, was never going to make the roster ahead of veterans Marcus Mariota and Josh Johnson. He is likely to return to Washington’s practice squad if he clears waivers, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Felton is another practice squad candidate, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. He hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2022 and most recently played for the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions.
Headlining Washington’s veteran cuts is Ferrell, who started 10 games for the Commanders in 2024. He never lived up to his draft billing as the No. 4 pick in 2019 and will now be looking for his fourth team in as many years. H0lmes and Day both had rotational defensive line roles last season, while Deiter started two games as the backup center but lost his spot this year.
Seahawks Planning Role For Jalen Milroe
The Seahawks didn’t draft Jalen Milroe in the third round of April’s draft for him to spend his rookie season developing on the sidelines.
Instead, they’re planning to install a package of offensive plays featuring Milroe, likely designed around his athleticism and abilities as a ballcarrier.
Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday (via Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune) that the offense will “have plays in game plans for [Milroe],” adding that he would practice those packages with the first-team. In the preseason, Milroe racked up 87 rushing yards on just 15 carries (5.8 yards per attempt) on both designed runs and scrambles, but only completed 56.4% of his passes with a pedestrian 6.5 yards per attempt, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Free agent signing Sam Darnold is still Seattle’s unquestioned starting quarterback, but the Seahawks clearly want to get Milroe involved as a rookie, both for his short-term impact and his long-term development.
Macdonald’s comments may add to the perception that the Seahawks don’t see Darnold as a long-term starter. They did notify him of their decision to draft Milroe, but the year-to-year structure of his contract suggests that Milroe could be a serious candidate to take over the starting job in the next few years.
Of course, Darnold could always establish himself as the future of the franchise with a strong debut season. Milroe, an exciting but flawed prospect, is no guarantee to succeed at the NFL level as a full-time starter, either. His athletic upside is certainly tantalizing to Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, so the team will find a way to get him on the field this year as they evaluate their future at quarterback.
Ravens LB Jake Hummel Underwent Minor Hand Procedure, Will Make 53-Man Roster
The Ravens’ roster picture became even clearer on Monday with head coach John Harbaugh confirming that veteran linebacker and special teams ace Jake Hummel would make the 53-man roster.
“He’s going to be a big part of what we’re doing,” said Harbaugh, who also revealed that Hummel has a minor hand procedure this week. The former Ram missed part of the spring due to the birth of his son and started training camp on the non-football injury list due to an issue with his hand. He returned to practice and played in Baltimore’s first two preseason game before sitting out the third.
Harbaugh also said that he expects Hummel to return to practice next week and be “good to go” for the Ravens’ regular season opener in Buffalo.
Hummel will be the fourth linebacker on Baltimore’s 53-man roster, along with All-Pro Roquan Smith, 2023 third-rounder Trenton Simpson, and rookie Teddye Buchanan. The Ravens could keep a fifth after an impressive preseason from undrafted rookie Jay Higgins. He recorded six tackles, one sack, one bat-down, and one interception on his way to a 90.9 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked fourth among all linebackers.
Harbaugh also provided some injury updates on wide receiver Xavier Guillory and Dayton Wade. Guillory, an undrafted rookie out of Arizona State, broke his clavicle, while Wade, a second-year UDFA, had chest surgery. Both are candidates to be placed on injured reserve, potentially ending their season, though neither was expected to make the 53-man roster.
49ers Place Isaiah Prince On IR, Make Five Other Moves
The 49ers made six roster moves on Monday, per a team announcement, including the placement of veteran offensive tackle Isaiah Prince on season-ending injured reserve.
Prince, 28, was auditioning for a depth tackle job in San Francisco before suffering a left knee injury on Saturday against the Chargers, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Originally a Dolphins sixth-round pick in 2019, Prince has also played for the Bengals, Falcons, and Titans in his career with 22 appearances and six starts. The 28-year-old will now spend the season on the IR unless he pursues an injury settlement.
The 49ers also released veteran running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn a few days after acquiring Brian Robinson from the Commanders. Vaughn spent the 2024 season on San Francisco’s practice squad and played a handful of snaps across three appearances, primarily on special teams. He began his career as a Buccaneers third-round pick in 2020 and played a tertiary role in their backfield over his first four seasons.
Here are the team’s four other moves:
Waived/injured:
Waived:
- DL Jaylon Allen
- DL Shakel Brown
Bradley and Mordecai, a pair of 2024 UDFAs, appeared to pick up injuries on Saturday, according to Barrows. They will revert to the 49ers’ IR if they go unclaimed before Wednesday’s waiver deadline. As a result, veteran Nate Sudfeld will likely be the team’s third quarterback, though San Francisco may want to release him during final roster cuts and bring him back on the practice squad.
Vikings Trade CB Mekhi Blackmon To Colts
The Vikings are trading cornerback Mekhi Blackmon to the Colts in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Blackmon, a 2023 third-round pick, carved out a role as Minnesota’s third cornerback as a rookie with 435 defensive snaps across 15 games. That seemed like an indicator that he would compete for a starting role during his second training camp, but the 26-year-old suffered a torn ACL in July missed all of the 2024 season.
Blackmon completed his recovery this offseason without issue and started the Vikings’ last two preseason games. However, that may have been an attempt to showcase the third-year corner to other teams, as ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports that Blackmon “seemed stuck with the third team on a depth chart that isn’t exactly loaded with cornerbacks.” As a result, Minnesota opted to move forward with a veteran trio of Byron Murphy, Isaiah Rodgers, and Jeff Okudah and recoup some draft capital for Blackmon.
Enter the Colts, who made yet another addition to their secondary this offseason after signing Charvarius Ward, Camryn Bynum, and most recently, Xavien Howard. All three are listed as starters on the team’s unofficial depth chart along with two incubments: nickel Kenny Moore and safety Nick Cross. Upon arriving in Indianapolis, Blackmon will join fellow 2023 draftees Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents in the cornerback room and provide depth on the boundary.
This is the third trade the Vikings have made in the last week as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah uses the team’s surplus talent to upgrade its draft capital. Along with deals to send Sam Howell to the Eagles and Harrison Phillips to the Jets, he has now collected four new picks – fifth- and sixth-rounders in 2026 and sixth- and seventh-rounders in 2027 – while also giving up 2026 sixth-round and 2027 seventh-round picks. Though that’s only a net gain of two Day 3 draft picks, teams always want to squeeze every bit of value out of departing players, and the extra picks could help Adofo-Mensah wheel and deal in the future.
Commanders Cut Michael Gallup, Five Others
The Commanders made six cuts this afternoon as they trim their roster down to 53 players.
Headlining the group is veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup, who signed with the Commanders in March to attempt an NFL comeback. He started 67 games for the Cowboys from 2018 to 2023, but struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and retired last summer.
Gallup’s return to the league came with some fanfare given his past production in Dallas. He averaged 819 yards per year across his first three seasons – including a thousand-yard campaign in 2019 – and still eclipsed 400 yards in his next three years despite a variety of injuries. He was unable to recapture his previous form in Washington, catching only four of his 10 preseason targets for 40 yards, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). As a vested veteran, he is free to sign with any other team.
In addition to Gallup, the following players were cut, per a team announcement.
- CB Essang Bassey
- C Nick Harris
- T Tyre Phillips
- DT Norell Pollard
- WR Braylon Sanders
Harris, a 2020 fifth-round pick, served as the Browns’ backup center for two years on either side of a season-ending knee injury in 2022. He was unable to beat out seven-year veteran Michael Deiter for the same role in Washington this summer. Phillips has started 28 games across his five-year career for the Ravens and the Giants, primarily at right tackle. Similarly to Harris, the Commanders’ offensive line depth kept him firmly outside of the 53-man roster picture.
However, both have enough experience to attract interest from a team that needs offensive line help – perhaps one that has lost several players to injury, like the Saints.
Bassey, Harris, and Phillips are all vested veterans who will become free agents right away. Pollard and Sanders are former UDFAs who will be subject to waivers.
Cowboys To Place RB Phil Mafah On IR
The Cowboys are planning to place rookie running back Phil Mafah on injured reserve with a return designation, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Mafah, a seventh-round pick, suffered a shoulder injury in the Cowboys’ final preseason game against the Falcons on Friday. He will be sidelined for at least the first four weeks of the regular season.
Dallas has carried three running backs (plus fullback Hunter Luepke) on their initial 53-man roster in each of the last two years. Two of those spots will be filled by Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders and Jaydon Blue. That left Mafah competing with 2023 sixth-rounder Deuce Vaughn and former UDFA Malik Davis to convince the team to roster a fourth running back.
Davis led the backfield statistically in the preseason with 70 rushing yards (50 of which came after contact), 7.8 yards per carry, and four runs of 10 yards or more, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, the Cowboys’ distribution of playing time suggests that Vaughn and Mafah were still ahead (in that order). With Mafah sidelined, Vaughn would be in line for a fourth RB roster spot – if it exists.
However, Mafah’s return designation means that he could be back as early as Week 5. The Cowboys’ top three running backs should be able to get the team through the first four games, at which point Mafah could be added back to the active roster as the RB4. That would allow Dallas to open up another roster spot during final cuts this week and figure out a way to make room for Mafah during the regular season.
Cardinals Waive QB Clayton Tune, 11 Others
The Cardinals took a step towards finalizing their 53-man roster on Monday by waiving 12 players including quarterback Clayton Tune, per a team announcement.
Tune, a 2023 fifth-round pick, began his rookie year as Arizona’s backup quarterback behind Joshua Dobbs with Kyler Murray working his way back from an ACL tear. Dobbs was sent to the Vikings at the trade deadline with Murray still not at 100%, so Tune started in Week 9 and got shut out by the Browns’ top-ranked defense.
The 26-year-old held onto the QB2 job in 2024, but only attempted two passes on the year to bring his career total to 23. This offseason, the Cardinals brought in veteran Jacoby Brissett as a more capable and experienced backup to Murray, and they opted not to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. However, Tune is a strong candidate to be signed to the team’s practice squad as the third-string quarterback.
Tune’s release will leave $86K of dead money on the Cardinals’ salary cap in 2025 and 2026, per OverTheCap. Here are Arizona’s other 11 cuts:
- WR Andre Baccellia
- CB Ekow Boye-Doe
- TE Oscar Cardenas
- OL McClendon Curtis
- CB Steven Gilmore
- DL Patrick Jenkins
- LB Vi Jones
- OL Roy Mbaeteka
- WR Nate McCollum
- OL Dohnovan West
- LB Benton Whitley
Mbaeteka is the only other player of note, as the Nigeria native is eligible to be an extra player on the practice squad via an international exemption. Teams can place claims on waived players until Wednesday, when all claims will be processed. Unclaimed players will then be eligible to sign with any team’s practice squad.
Texans’ Joe Mixon Headed To Reserve/NFI List
AUGUST 25: The Texans announced on Monday that Mixon will be moved to the reserve/NFI list. As a result, he will miss at least the first month of the season while continuing to recover from his injury. Houston could be in the market for a backfield addition over the coming days.
AUGUST 16 Texans running back Joe Mixon may not be ready for Week 1 as he rehabs from a “lingering foot-ankle injury,” according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Mixon missed three games in 2024 due to a similar issue and aggravated it while training this offseason. He has been on the non-football injury list since the start of training camp, missing crucial practice time as new offensive coordinator Nick Caley installs his scheme.
The Texans are taking a cautious approach with Mixon given the uncertain state of his injury. He has progressed out of a walking boot and into a brace as he tries to regain mobility, but getting back on the field still seems a ways away.
In the meantime, the Texans will likely take a committee approach to their backfield. Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and Woody Marks are the top four running backs on the depth chart (in order); each offers a different skillset to the offense.
Chubb has been an extremely consistent ballcarrier throughout his career, but he’s entering his age-30 season and coming off two straight injury-marred seasons. Though he could certainly bounce back in Houston, it seems unlikely that he could shoulder a heavy load right away.
After a strong rookie year, Pierce took a step back in 2023 before turning in an efficient 2024 on a small sample size. He and Chubb will likely split early-down snaps, while Ogunbowale will be the Texans’ third-down back. Marks, a fourth-round rookie out of USC, could be a change-of-pace back with a small pass-catching role of his own.
The Texans will want Mixon to get back on the field sooner rather than later, but a lingering injury and a new offensive coordinator will likely force him to ramp up gradually as the season starts. Ideally, he reaches full-strength in time to contribute to Houston’s push for another AFC South crown.