Eagles Cut 20+ Players, Down To 53
The Eagles are ready to fly into Week 1. On Tuesday, they made a series of moves to get down to the 53-man roster max. Here’s the full rundown:
Released
- S Andrew Adams
- T Le’Raven Clark
- RB Jordan Howard
- DT Hassan Ridgeway
- TE Richard Rodgers
- CB Kevon Seymour
Waived
- S Grayland Arnold
- G/T Kayode Awosika
- WR Travis Fulgham
- WR John Hightower
- RB Jason Huntley
- CB Michael Jacquet
- CB Craig James
- DE Matt Leo
- G Sua Opeta
- WR Andre Patton
- C/G Ross Pierschbacher
- S Elijah Riley
- LB JaCoby Stevens
- DT Raequan Williams
Placed on IR
Placed on Reserve/COVID List
- DT T.Y. McGill
The Birds also freed up a spot earlier today by trading offensive lineman Matt Pryor (and a 2022 seventh-round pick) to the Colts for a sixth-round choice.
The release of wide receiver Travis Fulgham was one of today’s more notable moves. Fulgham played a big role for the Eagles last year as the team was decimated by WR injuries. However, they didn’t see enough this summer to keep him on the 53-man roster. With Fulgham gone, the Eagles are left with J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Jalen Reagor, DeVonta Smith, Greg Ward, and Quez Watkins as their Week 1 receivers.
Colts Down To 53
The Colts have reached the 53-man limit. On Tuesday, Indy formally:
Waived
- WR Tarik Black
- LB Curtis Bolton
- DT Andrew Brown
- CB Anthony Chesley
- DT Kameron Cline
- S Shawn Davis
- G Jake Eldrenkamp
- TE Farrod Green
- WR DeMichael Harris
- CB Holton Hill
- RB Deon Jackson
- LB Malik Jefferson
- LB Isaiah Kaufusi
- RB Benny LeMay
- OT Carter O’Donnell
- WR Tyler Vaughns
- TE Kahale Warring
Released
- S Ibraheim Campbell
- S Sean Davis
- OT Will Holden
- QB Brett Hundley
- C Joey Hunt
Waived/Injured
- TE Jordan Thomas
- TE Andrew Vollert
Placed on Reserve/NFI
- DE Dayo Odeyingbo
Hundley’s release signals that the Colts aren’t all that concernedabout Carson Wentz‘s foot, or his vaccination status. The move comes even after sixth-round rookie Sam Ehlinger suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for a good chunk of time. The real takeaway is that they’re comfortable with 2020 fourth-round pick Jacob Eason, — he’s now the only other healthy quarterback behind Wentz on the initial roster.
Colts To Cut Brett Hundley
The Colts clearly aren’t too concerned about Carson Wentz‘s foot, or his vaccination status. Indianapolis is waiving fellow quarterback Brett Hundley, a source told Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
The move comes even after sixth-round rookie Sam Ehlinger suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for at least the early part of the season, so they must really not be concerned. It also suggests the team is pretty comfortable with 2020 fourth-round pick Jacob Eason, since he’ll be the only other healthy quarterback behind Wentz on the initial 53-man roster.
This suggests that Wentz’s foot will be all healed up and ready to go by Week 1. After Wentz’s injury originally had a harsher prognosis, the team signed Hundley just to give them some semblance of a veteran presence. A fifth-round pick of the Packers out of UCLA back in 2015, Hundley had some serious buzz around him for a while after some strong preseason performances.
But when he was forced to start nine games in 2017 in place of an injured Aaron Rodgers, he fell flat on his face, ruining his stock. He spent the past few seasons as a backup with the Seahawks and Cardinals. Considering he was unsigned until the last day of July, his phone won’t be ringing off the hook now that he’s a free agent again.
Colts Waive TE Kahale Warring
Kahale Warring has racked up quite the jersey collection. The Colts waived the tight end on Tuesday (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo), just days after picking him up from the Patriots. 
Scouts loved his potential coming out of San Diego State, but Warring has yet to produce as a pro. He had just three catches across two seasons for the Texans, most of which were spent on IR. Houston dropped the 2019 third-rounder earlier this month. He was then claimed by the Patriots, only to be dropped and picked up by the Colts this past weekend. Now, Indy has also dropped him from the roster.
The Saints also submitted a claim for Warring when the Texas waived him, so they might have some interest. Warring is still just 24, but it appears that he still hasn’t put it all together. Without Warring, the Colts will move forward with Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox, and fourth-round pick Kylen Granson as their TEs.
Eagles Trade Matt Pryor To Colts
The Eagles have traded guard/tackle Matt Pryor to the Colts. In exchange, the Colts will send a sixth-round round pick from the Birds while sending their own seventh-round choice back to Philly.
[RELATED: Jaguars Trade QB Gardner Minshew To Eagles]
It’s a small upgrade for the Eagles, who were set to release Pryor before today’s 4pm ET/3pm CT deadline. The Eagles still have a ways to go with upwards of 20 players to drop in order to get to 53.
Pryor, 26, saw the most action of his career last year with 15 games and ten starts. With Pryor out of the picture, the Eagles are set (for now) to move forward with former Colts swing man Le’Raven Clark and Jack Driscoll for tackle support.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/30/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to pare their rosters down to 53 players.
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DB Chris Banjo, DL Josh Mauro
- Waived: WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jace Whittaker, S James Wiggins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Terrance Smith
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Jordan Phillips
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DT Eli Ankou, DL Zac Dawe, S Dwayne Johnson Jr., DE Kobe Jones, WR Chris Rowland, LB Tuzar Skipper
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: WR Deon Cain, WR Devin Gray, WR Siaosi Mariner
- Released: TE Eric Tomlinson
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Tim Harris, WR Brandon Powell, RB Kerrith Whyte
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Mike Horton, S Jalen Julius, OL Aaron Monteiro
Cleveland Browns
- Released: WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: CB Brian Allen, TE Jordan Franks, OL Colby Gossett, DE Porter Gustin, QB Kyle Lauletta, DE Cameron Malveaux, TE Kyle Markway, S Jovante Moffatt, S Sheldrick Redwine, CB Manny Rugamba, LB Tegray Scales, DE Curtis Weaver, DT Marvin Wilson
- Placed on IR: OT Greg Senat
Chicago Bears
- Released: OL Adam Redmond
- Waived: TE Scooter Harrington
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: S Steven Parker
Denver Broncos
- Waived: TE Shaun Beyer, WR Tyrie Cleveland, TE Austin Fort, OT Drew Himmelman, WR Kendall Hinton, DE Isaiah Mack, CB Mac McCain, FB Adam Prentice, LB Curtis Robinson, QB Brett Rypien, OL Austin Schlottmann, RB Stevie Scott, CB Saivion Smith, LB Derrek Tuszka, WR Seth Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, DT Miles Brown, CB Mike Ford, OL Evan Heim, S Alijah Holder, WR Damion Ratley
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Laremy Tunsil
- Waived/injured: CB Cornell Armstrong, LB Tae Davis
- Waived: DB Shyheim Carter, OL Danny Isidora, TE Ryan Izzo, OL Carson Green, RB Buddy Howell
- Released: QB Jeff Driskel
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, QB Carson Wentz; the trio landed on the coronavirus list due to being high-risk close contacts, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Quenton Nelson
- Waived: CB Holton Hill, LB Isaiah Kaufusi
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: CB Corey Straughter
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Josh Allen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: CB Zayne Anderson, WR Maurice Ffrench, RBDerrick Gore, DB Devon Key, RB Darwin Thompson, OL Darryl Williams
- Traded: OL Yasir Durant (to Patriots for 2022 seventh-round pick, per Herbie Teope of the KC Star on Twitter)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Darron Lee
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Jessie Lemonier
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DB Brontae Harris, WR Jeremiah Haydel, G Jeremiah Kolone, G Jordan Meredith, DB Donovan Olumba, LB Troy Warner
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: S Nate Holley, WR Khalil McClain, DE Tyshun Render, TE Carl Tucker
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Robert Foster
New England Patriots
- Waived: S Adrian Colbert, DL Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon
- Traded for: OL Yasir Durant (via Chiefs for 2022 seventh-round pick, per Herbie Teope of the KC Star on Twitter)
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: S Eric Burrell, OG Derrick Kelly, CB Natrell Jamerson, DL R.J. McIntosh, OL Christian Montano, LB Shaq Smith
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Lawrence Cager, S J.T. Hassell, CB Lamar Jackson, OL Corey Levin, Jeremiah Valoaga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: OL Ross Pierschbacher
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Rico Bussey, LS Kameron Canaday, LB Jamar Watson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: TE Ian Bunting, WR Darece Roberson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Joseph Jones, DT Kobe Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Nate Davis
- Waived/injured: OL Chandon Herring
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Brent Qvale (story)
Washington Football Team
- Waived: WR Tony Brown, S Cole Luke, CB Linden Stephens, WR Isaiah Wright
- Released: DT Devaroe Lawrence, LB Joe Walker
Colts Cut Sean Davis
The Colts have released safety Sean Davis (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Davis, who joined the Colts back in April, was slated to support starters Khari Willis and Julian Blackmon.
Davis entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2016. He spent his first four years in Pittsburgh, making 31 starts between 2017-18. Then, he missed almost all of 2019 due to injury. In 2020, he was set to play for the Washington Football Team, but missed the cut. Davis then found his way back to Pittsburgh where he dressed for all 16 of their games. With Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick playing in front of him, Davis finished 2020 with just 12 tackles and one pass defensed.
Davis seemed to have a chance at significant time in Indy given the departures of Malik Hooker and Tavon Wilson. Now, he’s back on the market with days to go before the start of the season.
Colts WR T.Y. Hilton To Miss Time; OT Sam Tevi Suffers Torn ACL
Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton is expected to miss multiple weeks due to an injury sustained in practice on Wednesday, as Stephen Holder of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). Adam Schefter of ESPN.com says Hilton is dealing with an upper back/neck malady, and it is unclear exactly how long he will be sidelined (Twitter link).
Hilton, of course, is a team icon who currently ranks third on the Colts’ all-time receiving yards list. He has spent his entire career in Indianapolis since being selected in the third round of the 2012 draft, though it appeared this offseason that a divorce may be in the cards. The team let Hilton hit the open market, and he received a strong offer from the Ravens. He was on the verge of signing with Baltimore — who offered him considerably more money — before an 11th-hour call from Colts owner Jim Irsay convinced him to change his mind.
Indianapolis was looking forward to fielding an intriguing collection of WR talent with Hilton, Michael Pittman, Parris Campbell, and Zach Pascal. Campbell, a 2019 second-rounder, has played in just nine games in his pro career due to injuries of his own, and Pittman is entering his second professional season. So Hilton’s experience will be beneficial to this group, and Holder notes in a separate tweet that he and QB Carson Wentz — whose Week 1 availability is also up in the air — were starting to build real chemistry in practice.
If Hilton is indeed forced to miss regular season action, another roster spot for players like Dezmon Patmon, Ashton Dulin, and Mike Strachan could be there for the taking. The Colts could also peruse the cuts that will soon be coming en masse for other options.
In other unwelcome news, Colts offensive tackle Sam Tevi has suffered a torn ACL and will miss the entire 2021 season, as Mike Wells of ESPN.com tweets. In Wells’ estimation, Tevi was on the roster bubble anyway. Eric Fisher, who will ultimately step in as the club’s starting left tackle, may not be ready for the start of the season, but Julie’n Davenport has taken the bulk of first-team reps at LT recently, and it sounds as if Indy prefers to deploy Davenport as the swing tackle once Fisher returns.
Colts QB Sam Ehlinger Suffers ACL Sprain
Sam Ehlinger‘s promising preseason came to a halt Friday night, and the rookie quarterback will miss time due to injury. Ehlinger suffered an ACL sprain, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Although he will not require surgery, a five-week absence will be expected, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
While exams not revealing a full tear represents good news for the Colts, who have seen positive signs from their sixth-round rookie this summer, the team now has less protection in the event Carson Wentz is not ready to play in Week 1. Ehlinger and Jacob Eason were vying for Indianapolis’ backup job; Eason appears set to win that by default.
Ehlinger completed 3 of 3 passes Friday before exiting the game late in the first half with the knee issue. Eason completed 10 of 14 passes for 74 yards. The Texas product had moved up to split first-team practice reps with Eason during training camp, putting himself in position to be a September stopgap starter in the event Wentz could not go. Now, Ehlinger will be a candidate to begin the season on IR. The Colts could stash Ehlinger there and activate him when he recovers, but they would need to carry him onto their 53-man roster after Tuesday’s cutdown day to do so.
Wentz returned to practice this week and continues to progress toward a Week 1 return from foot surgery, joining Quenton Nelson in that regard. This would allow the Colts to dodge a bullet. They refrained from bringing in a veteran to fill Wentz’s post while he rehabbed, instead entrusting Eason and Ehlinger. Brett Hundley is also on Indy’s roster, but he last started a game in 2017.
Colts Claim TE Kahale Warring
Kahale Warring will head back to the AFC South and be with a third team in less than a week. After the Patriots waived the young tight end, the Colts submitted a successful claim for him, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
A Texans third-round pick in 2019, Warring landed on the waiver wire after Houston cut him Monday. New England came through with a claim but jettisoned the San Diego State product soon after. The Colts attempted to claim Warring initially, and after losing out to the Pats’ waiver priority, they were awarded the third-year pass catcher this time around.
The early returns on Warring are not good. Injuries have limited the former prospect to just seven games in two seasons, and his resume includes three receptions in that span. Warring missed all of his rookie season due to injury. Warring is still just 24 and has seen a few teams show interest this week. The Saints also tried to claim Warring earlier this week. It is not yet known if New Orleans submitted a second claim like Indianapolis did. The Colts had the better waiver priority, due to finishing the 2020 season with a worse record.
Indianapolis has Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox as its top two tight ends, with the team also having used a fourth-round pick on Kylen Granson this year. Warring could profile as a practice squad developmental candidate, but that would mean the Colts passing him through waivers next week.