Rams Start Roster Trimming With 11 Players
The Rams got started on working down their roster to the eventual 53 players they’ll open up the season with today. In doing so, they released one veteran and waived 10 other players:
Released:
Waived:
- TE McCallan Castles
- S Malik Dixon-Williams
- OL Ben Dooley
- DT Decarius Hawthorne
- G John Leglue
- C Mike McAllister
- OLB Josh Pearcy
- DL Da’Jon Terry
- T Trey Wedig
- QB Dresser Winn
Fields fell in an out of favor over the course of his rookie contract in Cleveland, starting 10 games between his second and third year with the team before getting waived after an ankle injury in Week 1 of last year. He signed a practice squad deal with Los Angeles with hopes of making an impact once healthy. Unfortunately, his opportunity with the Rams won’t be on the 53-man roster, though he may agree to sign back on to the team’s practice squad, since he doesn’t have to go through waivers.
This was Winn’s third stint in Los Angeles, with short stays in the CFL and UFL bridging the other two stints. He has enough familiarity with the team that he may be a name they bring back to the practice squad. No other names here draw much surprise as five of those waived were undrafted rookies.
Patriots To Add QB; Vederian Lowe, Demontrey Jacobs Seen As Trade Candidates
As things stand, the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart solely consists of Drake Maye and Josh Dobbs. The team cut Ben Wooldridge shortly after the preseason wrapped up. 
As a result, the expectation exists New England will be in the market for an addition under center in the coming days. Indeed, head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss) the Patriots will add a quarterback shortly. The new arrival will likely be headed to the practice squad, but nothing will be certain on that front until later this week.
Dobbs’ hold on a roster spot has been questioned, but at this point the veteran is set to operate as New England’s backup. Whether or not a replacement is sought out, finances will not be a challenge. The Patriots entered Sunday with a league-leading $60MM in cap space.
In other Pats news, Reiss’ colleague Jeremy Fowler notes trades involving one or more offensive linemen could be in store soon. That position group is one which often sees movement at this time of year as teams aim to acquire veteran depth in time for the regular season. Specifically, Fowler names Vederian Lowe and Demontrey Jacobs as players viewed as being available in a swap.
Lowe was drafted by the Vikings in 2022, but he has spent the past two seasons with New England. That span included eight starts in 2023 and another 13 last season. After the Patriots made several changes up front this spring, however – including the arrival of a new tackle tandem in the form of Will Campbell and Morgan Moses – Lowe could find himself on the move in the event of a trade.
Jacobs made 13 starts in 2024, but he too is a candidate for a reduced role under Vrabel if he remains in New England. Depending on how trade talks shake out over the next few days, one or more deals could be worked out along the O-line as the Pats try to take a much needed step forward in that respect this season.
Browns Release QB Tyler Huntley, CB Tony Brown
Among the Browns’ first moves toward a 53-man roster is the expected departure of Tyler Huntley. The veteran quarterback is being released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
In addition, Schefter notes veteran corner Tony Brown is being let go. Neither move (both of which are now official) comes as a surprise, of course. Huntley in particular has long been seen as a prime candidate to be released given Cleveland’s commitment to carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster.
Joe Flacco will handle starting duties to begin the 2025 campaign, while veteran Kenny Pickett is set to remain in the fold. Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are not in danger of being cut or traded, meaning Huntley’s departure represents an expected outcome. The 27-year-old has been with Cleveland for two stints, but he has yet to make a regular season appearance for the team.
Huntley will now hit the open market in search of a backup or third-string opportunity elsewhere. He has made 14 starts in his career, including five last season as an injury replacement for the Dolphins. A return to Miami should not be expected in 2025, but other gigs should be available in the near future.
Brown, 30, spent time with the Packers, Bengals and Colts before his debut Cleveland campaign. The former UDFA made six appearances for the Browns in 2024, playing exclusively on special teams along the way. After logging an 81% snap share in that capacity, his absence could be felt this season. Barring a spot on Cleveland’s practice squad, Brown will join Huntley in seeking out a new team in time for Week 1.
No guaranteed money was included in either players’ pact. As a result, Cleveland will create roughly $2MM in cap savings with these moves without any dead money charges being generated.
Bills Begin Roster Cuts
The Bills have begun trimming their roster in advance of Tuesday’s deadline for final cuts. The following seven players have been let go:
Waived:
- DB Zy Alexander
- DE Nelson Ceaser
- CB Garnett Hollis Jr.
- OL Rush Reimer
- TE Matt Sokol
- RB Elijah Young
Waived-injured:
- WR Grant DuBose
Given the highly inexperienced nature of each player listed, none of these moves comes as a surprise. The first six will hit the wire, and interested teams will have until Wednesday – when practice squads are first constructed – to put in a claim. Failing that, free agency will be in store.
DuBose signed with Buffalo on Tuesday, but his tenure in the organization has proven to be rather short-lived. The 24-year-old will revert to injured reserve once his clears waivers. In situations such as this, the next step is usually a release from IR by means of an injury settlement.
Vikings To Release QB Brett Rypien
The Vikings’ quarterback moves continue. Veteran Brett Rypien is being released, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. 
Minnesota swung a trade with the Eagles earlier today to send Sam Howell to Philadelphia. That move paved the way for Carson Wentz to be signed as the Vikings’ new backup. In the wake of those changes, Rypien is no longer in the picture.
The Vikings are prepared to move forward with J.J. McCarthy as their starter despite the fact he has yet to play in the regular season. Wentz – who visited yesterday and has 94 starts to his name – represents a highly experienced backup. Today’s news means undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will operate as Minnesota’s QB3 in 2025.
Rypien, meanwhile, will hit the open market as teams continue to sort out their rosters ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for roster cuts. The 29-year-old will be free to sign with an interested suitor once his release is official. It would come as a surprise, though, if that were to take place until after the approaching deadline. Today’s cut will free up $1.06MM in cap space for the Vikings without incurring any dead money charges.
A UDFA in 2019, Rypien began his NFL career with the Broncos. He remained in Denver through 2022, making three starts and eight appearances along the way. The Boise State product spent part of the following year with the Rams, making one start for Los Angeles. Rypien signed with Minnesota in 2024; he did not see any game time with the team but was retained via a futures deal in January.
That set up a competition with Brosmer for the third-string role, one which has now been decided. Brosmer is a candidate for the practice squad later this week, whereas Rypien’s future is now uncertain.
Cowboys Plan To Carry CB Trevon Diggs On Active Roster
AUGUST 24: Diggs has passed his physical, per Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys official website. That will take him off the PUP list and onto the active roster.
As we heard on Saturday, and as Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reiterates, this development does not guarantee that Diggs will be on the field in Week 1. Nonetheless, Yarrish says Diggs at least has a chance to be in the lineup for the regular season opener against the Eagles.
AUGUST 23: Trevon Diggs has continued to make progress in his recovery from January knee surgery. As team and player hoped, a stint on the Cowboys’ reserve/PUP list to start the campaign is unlikely. 
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Saturday (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the Cowboys plan to carry Diggs on their active roster to start the season. A move to the PUP list would have ensured at least a four-game absence, but as of last month the two-time Pro Bowler made it clear he intended to play at some point in September. That will be possible given this decision.
It would come as a surprise if Diggs were to suit up for Week 1 given his missed time throughout training camp and the preseason. Still, a return shortly after that point would be key for the Cowboys given their other injuries at the cornerback spot. Third-round rookie Shavon Revel has also been sidelined all summer while rehabbing the ACL tear which ended his college career. Revel is a candidate for the reserve/PUP list and thus a delayed start to debut campaign.
Caelen Carson‘s hyperextended knee is likely to lead to missed time in the regular season, something which adds slightly more urgency to Diggs’ return. The 2021 All-Pro will reprise his starting gig alongside DaRon Bland when back at full strength. In the meantime, trade acquisition Kaiir Elam is on track to handle a notable role on his second team.
Diggs has four years remaining on his 2023 extension. None of his base salaries beyond the coming season ($14.5MM, 19.5MM, $20MM) are guaranteed, however, meaning a pay cut agreement or a parting of ways could be in store next spring. How the 26-year-old fares this season will be key in determining his future. Diggs was limited to two games in 2023 and 11 last year. Another prolonged absence seemed to be in store when his surgery took place, but it now appears that will not be the case.
Lions LB Ezekiel Turner May Have Suffered Torn Achilles
Lions linebacker Ezekiel Turner suffered what head coach Dan Campbell believes is a “significant” injury during the team’s final preseason game on Saturday, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Turner himself said he may have sustained a torn Achilles.
Turner, 29, has carved out a niche as a respected special teams contributor. The Washington product signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2018, and he impressed enough in his third phase work to earn an RFA tender in 2021. He remained with Arizona through the end of the 2023 season.
He signed with the 49ers last March but did not make it to the end of training camp with the club. He caught on with the Texans’ practice squad and appeared in one game for Houston before being cut and landing on the Seahawks’ taxi squad. He did not see game action with Seattle and eventually joined Detroit’s p-squad.
Despite appearing in only nine regular season games with the Lions, Turner set a career-high with 111 defensive snaps, as the injury-decimated team was in desperate need of bodies. He continued to operate as a key special-teamer, and he did enough to earn a new contract this offseason. The Lions were presumably counting on him to carry on his work on ST, and he was also in the backup linebacker mix.
“That could be tough,” Campbell said of Turner’s injury. “We’re getting tests on that. That was a significant injury it looks like.”
Turner, who has 90 regular season appearances to his name, has recorded 95 total tackles, a half-sack, and a forced fumble. He also appeared in the Lions’ lone playoff game last season.
Another one of the Lions’ special teams standouts, RB Sione Vaki, has dealt with hamstring injuries throughout camp. He is still sidelined with an injury that Campbell says is “not a major thing,” but it sounds as if he could be available for Week 1 (via Birkett).
Jets Trade DT Derrick Nnadi To Chiefs
2025 appeared to set Derrick Nnadi up for his first career season spent outside of Kansas City. That will not be the case for the veteran defensive tackle, however. 
The Jets are trading Nnadi to the Chiefs, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Conditional sixth- and seventh-round picks in 2027 are being exchanged as part of this swap, which is now official. Today’s move means Nnadi, whose entire seven-year NFL career has taken place in Kansas City, will return to a familiar team for the coming season.
The 29-year-old took a one-year pact in March to head to New York. That $1.42MM deal contained marginal guarantees, and the Jets will take on a dead money charge of $168K as a result of this swap. The team will gain $1.03MM in cap space, however.
Today’s trade continues the shuffling along the defensive interior overseen by the Jets in recent days. On Wednesday, a swap was worked out with the Vikings for Harrison Phillips. That same day also saw the acquisition of Jowon Briggs from the Browns. With those new faces in place, New York moved quickly in waiving Phidarian Mathis. Nnadi is also out of the picture just before the deadline for final roster cuts.
Over the course of his time in Kansas City, Nnadi raked up 87 starts across 115 appearances. The three-time Super Bowler winner was also a key figure during the postseason. The Chiefs found themselves in need of an addition along the D-line for early-down work in particular with the regular season approaching. They will rely on a familiar face to fill that void.
Nnadi made between 29 and 48 tackles during his first six Kansas City seasons. The former third-rounder’s production dropped off considerably in 2024, a year in which his defensive snap share fell to a career-low 20%. At least a rotational role will be in store this season upon returning, though. Nnadi’s 2026 value will be determined by his level of play with his former team.
John Franklin-Myers Addresses Lack Of Broncos Extension Talks
One of the top developments of this offseason in the case of the Broncos has been extension agreements with in-house players. Defensive linemen Zach Allen and wideout Courtland Sutton each have new four-year deals in hand. 
Talks on a new pact are also taking place with edge rusher Nik Bonitto, meanwhile. As Denver prepares for a raise in that situation as well, defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers remains on course for free agency next spring. No extension negotiations have taken place in the veteran’s case, something he spoke about on Saturday.
“I’m here to play football whether they pay me or not,” Franklin-Myers said (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). “If not, I’ll be a free agent this offseason and my time is going to come. Obviously, we understand the contract thing. So, obviously go out there and put my best foot forward each and every day. But ultimately it’s the front office’s decision. But I’m here to play football with or without [an extension].”
Acquired via trade from the Jets in 2024, Franklin-Myers started all but one game during his debut Denver season (although he logged a defensive snap share of just 46%, a step down from recent seasons). Despite that reduction in workload, the 28-year-old enjoyed a career year in terms of sacks (seven), total stops (40) and tackles for loss (eight). Any new pact would naturally include a raise as a result.
For now, Franklin-Myers is set to collect $8MM in 2025 while carrying a cap hit of $10MM. Given the lack of discussions on an extension, it is unlikely an agreement will be reached prior to Week 1. As such, the former fourth-rounder’s performance during the season will be worth watching closely given its impact on his free agent stock.
The Broncos now have Allen attached to a $25MM-per-year extension, and D.J. Jones is on the books for another three seasons at an average of $13MM annually. Presuming a Bonitto pact eventually gets worked out, it would come as little surprise if the team avoided any further big-money investments along the defensive front. That could leave Franklin-Myers on the move next spring, with his market being dictated by his ability to duplicate last year’s success.
Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer To Meet With Micah Parsons
The ongoing Cowboys-Micah Parsons contract saga saw another interesting twist during Dallas’ final preseason contest on Friday. In the third quarter of that game, Parsons – whose star status would have kept him on the sidelines even if he had an extension in place – lay on the medical table behind the team bench while the offense was on the field (as relayed by ESPN’s Todd Archer). He was also the only player not wearing a team jersey. 
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he would speak with Parsons about the matter on Sunday. This latest development comes amidst ongoing uncertainty regarding the All-Pro’s future. Serious extension talks have not taken place since the spring (if the conversation between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones can be classified as such) and with Week 1 approaching, no agreement appears to be imminent.
“Without talking to Micah, I need to figure out what he was doing and why he was doing it,” Schottenheimer said (via Archer). “So, until I talk to him, I’m obviously not going to talk about it.”
Jones’ latest round of public appearances have seen him state his offer to Parsons would have made him the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback. That could still turn out to be the case, although the cost of doing so would now include an annual average salary surpassing T.J. Watt‘s $41MM figure. Involving agent David Mulugheta in the negotiating process has proven to be a major sticking point; Jones and Mulugheta have not spoken since Parsons went public with a trade request.
Inquiries from interested teams have been made, although the widespread expectation around the league remains no Parsons swap will take place. The 26-year-old is a pending 2026 free agent, but the prospect of one or two franchise tags looms as a means of Dallas keeping him in the fold well beyond the coming campaign. Given the timeline along which high-profile Cowboys contract talks traditionally take place, there is of course still a strong chance a last-minute deal will be struck on the extension front.
Parsons has not participated in training camp while seeking an extension but also while dealing with back tightness. Injuries (legitimate or otherwise) are commonplace when it comes to players in his situation, and Schottenheimer noted Parsons underwent an MRI on Friday. He added the scan came back “pretty clean,” so missed time through injury should not be expected in the regular season. It is still uncertain, however, if the Cowboys’ defense will be at full strength or if a September holdout could be in store in the event Parsons does not sign a new contract in the coming days.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.