49ers Get Roster Down To 53
The 49ers made a long list of transactions today to get down to 53 players. Several of these moves have previously been reported, but for posterity’s sake, we’ve listed them all below.
Placed on reserve/PUP list
- DB Tarvarius Moore
- RB Jeff Wilson
Placed on IR
- OT Shon Coleman
Released
- WR Travis Benjamin
- OL Jake Brendel
- S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
- RB Wayne Gallman
- CB Dontae Johnson
- OL Senio Kelemete
- TE Jordan Matthews
- TE MyCole Pruitt
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- DL Eddie Yarbrough
Waived
- DL Alex Barrett
- WR River Cracraft
- DL Darrion Daniels
- OL Alfredo Gutierrez
- S Jared Mayden
- OL Colton McKivitz
- CB Alexander Myres
- OL Dakoda Shepley
- LB Elijah Sullivan
- WR Nsimba Webster
Placed on Reserved/Suspended List
Chargers Trim Roster To 53
The Chargers waived 16 players today, reducing their roster to 53 players. The team made the following transactions
Waived
- K Michael Badgley
- WR Michael Bandy
- RB Darius Bradwell
- CB John Brannon
- DL Cortez Broughton
- LB Cole Christiansen
- DB Ben DeLuca
- LB Emeke Egbule
- DL Breiden Fehoko
- LB Joe Gaziano
- OG Nate Gilliam
- OG Ryan Hunter
- WR Tyron Johnson
- TE Hunter Kampmoyer
- WR Jason Moore
- WR Joe Reed
It’s a bit surprising that the organization is moving on from Johnson considering his solid season in 2020. The 2019 undrafted free agent finished his second professional season with 23 touches for 415 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. The 25-year-old also got some run on special teams, including six kick returns.
Badgley was another notable cut, which we explored in depth earlier today.
Vikings Cut Everson Griffen, Get Down To 53
Everson Griffen‘s reunion with the Vikings has already come to an end. The veteran defensive end was among the team’s cuts today.
Griffen spent his entire career with the Vikings up until 2020. Splitting time between the Cowboys and Lions, Griffen finished out with six sacks in total. Meanwhile, no Vikings edge rusher finished with more than five. His ten-year run with the Vikes saw four Pro Bowl appearances and 74.5 total sacks.
Running back Ameer Abdullah was among the other players to earn their walking papers today. The veteran spent the past two-plus seasons with the Vikings, collecting 313 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 55 carries.
The Vikings made the following moves to get down to 53 players:
Released
- LS Andrew DePaola
- OG Dakota Dozier
- CB Tye Smith
Waived
- OT Zack Bailey
- FB Jake Bargas
- LB Tuf Borland
- QB Jake Browning
- TE Zach Davidson
- S Myles Dorn
- OG Kyle Hinton
- DE Hercules Mata’afa
- WR Myron Mitchell
- CB Parry Nickerson
- WR Whop Philyor
- RB A.J. Rose, Jr.
- DE Kenny Willekes
- TE Shane Zylstra
Waived/Injured
- WR Chad Beebe
- S Luther Kirk
- OG Dru Samia
- QB Nate Stanley
Patriots Release QB Brian Hoyer
The Patriots started the day with three healthy quarterbacks on their roster, and now they’re down to one. Albert Breer of TheMMQB reports (via Twitter) that the team has released veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer.
However, it doesn’t sound like Hoyer will sit in free agency all that long. Breer speculates that the veteran QB could land back in New England once the team opens a roster spot by placing another player (perhaps wideout N’Keal Harry) on short-term IR.
The Patriots surprised many earlier today when they released veteran Cam Newton, making rookie first-round pick Mac Jones the starter. Hoyer seemed liked a logical fit as a backup considering his experience with the offense. Fast forward to now, both Newton and Hoyer are off the roster while Jarrett Stidham is on PUP, leaving the rook as the lone QB on the active roster.
Hoyer has had three stints with the Patriots throughout his 12-year career, earning a Super Bowl ring as Tom Brady‘s backup in 2018. Following a one-year stint with the Colts in 2019, Hoyer re-joined the Patriots last offseason following Brady’s defection to Tampa Bay. Hoyer ended up starting a single game for New England, completing 15 of his 24 pass attempts for 130 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a fumble. The veteran didn’t end up seeing the field again following that Week 4 loss to the Chiefs.
Raiders Trim Roster To 53
Some of the Raiders’ cuts became known earlier Tuesday, with the team parting ways with Karl Joseph and John Brown. Here are the rest of the moves Las Vegas made to reach the 53-man roster limit:
Released:
Waived:
- LB Asmar Bilal (waived/injured)
- TE Matt Bushman
- G Lester Cotton
- DT Matt Dickerson
- WR Keelan Doss
- TE Alex Ellis (waived/injured)
- RB B.J. Emmons
- DE Gerri Green
- RB Garrett Groshek
- OT Devery Hamilton
- CB Isaiah Johnson
- OL Jaryd Jones-Smith
- S Dallin Leavitt
- C Jimmy Morrissey
- OL Jeremiah Poutasi
- RB Trey Ragas
- LB Max Richardson
- DT Niles Scott
- WR Dillon Stoner
- WR DJ Turner
- DE Kendal Vickers
Several of these players will be invited to stick around on Las Vegas’ practice squad, with the NFL greenlighting a second year of 16-man taxi squads. The Raiders’ cutting Brown and Doss keeps Willie Snead and Zay Jones on their active roster. Johnson played a part-time role on the Raiders’ defense last season, while Carrier has been with the team for the past four years. The Raiders re-signed him in March. Wreh-Wilson was aiming to catch on for a ninth NFL season, and while the former Titans and Falcons cornerback may do so, the Raiders halted his effort to land on their initial 53-man roster.
Cardinals Place Malcolm Butler On Reserve/Retired List
It appears Malcolm Butler may really be walking away from the game. The Cardinals have placed the veteran corner on the reserve/retired list, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
We heard yesterday that Butler was mulling retirement, and it looks like he’s made up his mind. It was reported yesterday that the former Patriot and Titan was “dealing with a personal situation,” although details were light. All we know is that Butler has been away from the team recently. Apparently both retirement and “stepping away” were both options, so it’s possible this isn’t anything permanent.
Butler is of course known for his Super Bowl heroics with the Patriots, and he spent the last three seasons in Tennessee. Even though he was cut by the Titans this offseason, he received strong marks from Pro Football Focus for his work in 2020. He landed a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth $3.25MM from Arizona, and was expected to be a starter on Vance Joseph’s defense.
The last minute change of plans will leave the Cards a bit undermanned in their secondary after they let longtime starter Patrick Peterson walk this offseason. It looks like fourth-round rookie Marco Wilson or veteran Robert Alford will now be counted on to start in Butler’s place.
Of course, we all hope that whatever Butler is dealing with off the field isn’t anything too bad, and we wish him well with whatever his future holds.
Dolphins Set Initial 53-Man Roster
The Dolphins have joined the club of teams to officially get down to 53 players on cutdown day. Here’s the list of of players from Miami that will be looking for new homes in the coming days:
Placed on season-ending IR:
Released:
- LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
- CB Cre’von LeBlanc
- OT Adam Pankey
- C Cameron Tom
Waived:
- CB Javaris Davis
- RB Gerrid Doaks
- CB Tino Ellis
- LB Shaquem Griffin
- LB Kylan Johnson
- DT Benito Jones
- RB Patrick Laird
- DE Jonathan Ledbetter
- WR Kai Locksley
- WR Kirk Merritt
- LB Calvin Munson
- TE Chris Myarick
- WR Malcolm Perry
- OG Durval Queiroz Neto
- RB Jordan Scarlett
- QB Reid Sinnett
- DE Jason Strowbridge
There are some reasonably big names on this list, including LeBlanc and Harvey-Clemons among the vested veterans getting outright released. LeBlanc played a sizable role in the Eagles’ secondary last season, and started nine games for the Bears as a rookie back in 2016. Harvey-Clemons was a decent-sized part of Washington’s defense in 2018, but his role was reduced in 2019 before he opted out of the 2020 seasons.
You’ll likely recognize some of the waiver cuts as well, including Griffin. The brother of star cornerback Shaquill Griffin, the linebacker was attempting to make the team after a few years with the Seahawks. Laird started four games for the Dolphins in 2019 and received 62 carries that year, but he was mainly a special teams guy last season.
Chiefs Reach 53-Man Limit
The two-time defending AFC champions pared their roster to 53 players Tuesday. Following some early cuts Monday, here are the rest of the moves the Chiefs made to get there:
Released:
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- WR Marcus Kemp
Waived:
- DB Dicaprio Bootle
- QB Shane Buechele
- DB Marlon Character
- DT Tyler Clark
- DB Rodney Clemons
- LB Omari Cobb
- DE Austin Edwards
- DE Demone Harris
- DB Devon Key
- DB BoPete Keyes
- OT Wyatt Miller
- WR Cornell Powell
- WR Dalton Schoen
- WR Darrius Shepherd
- LB Emmanuel Smith
- OT Prince Tega Wanogho
- DE Tim Ward
Placed on reserve/NFI list:
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Long will miss the Chiefs’ first six games. The recently unretired offensive lineman suffered a knee injury in June. While Long was part of the Chiefs’ extensive offseason offensive line puzzle, the team made several moves to create O-line depth after its Super Bowl LV blocking debacle. Kansas City traded for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., signed guard Joe Thuney and center Austin Blythe, and drafted center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith. Long and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who opted out last year and came up in trade calls this week, are not expected to start but would stand to provide high-end depth on Kansas City’s retooled line.
The Chiefs took Powell in the fifth round. The Clemson alum would make sense as a practice squad candidate, but the Chiefs will run the risk of anther team claiming the rookie wideout and preventing such a scenario. Kansas City lost Sammy Watkins but returns the likes of Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson as supporting-cast receivers.
Ravens Reduce Roster To 53
The Ravens cut down their roster to 53 players today, with the team making the following transactions:
Released
- OT Adrian Ealy
- DT Justin Ellis
- DB Anthony Levine
- TE Ben Mason
- RB Nate McCrary
- LB Pernell McPhee
- QB Trace McSorley
- WR Jaylon Moore
- TE Tony Poljan
- OT Foster Sarell
- DT Jovan Swann
- WR Binjimen Victor
- DB Nigel Warriors
Waived/Injured
- LB Otaro Alaka
- DT Aaron Crawford
Placed on Reserve/NFI
The team also announced a handful of previously reported transactions, which you can find here.
Obviously Pernell and Levine are the two major names on this list, but there’s a chance the veterans land back in Baltimore once the team places a handful of players on IR.
Pernell spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, starting 20 of his 22 appearances. In those 22 games, the 32-year-old collected 53 tackles and six sacks. The veteran also started his career with the Ravens before bouncing between the Bears and Washington. Levine, meanwhile, isn’t a stranger to bouncing on and off the Ravens roster, but he’s still managed to miss only one regular season game for the organization since 2013. That missed game actually came in 2020, when the special teams ace finished with only seven tackles.
Titans Reduce Roster To 53
The Titans have officially trimmed their roster to 53 players. Tennessee made the following moves:
Waived
-
- OL Cole Banwart
- DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
- WR Fred Brown
- DB Jamal Carter
- FB Tory Carter
- OL Christian DiLauro
- WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- TE Miller Forristall
- OL Derwin Gray
- DL Woodrow Hamilton
- RB Javian Hawkins
- LB Jan Johnson
- DL Naquan Jones
- WR Mason Kinsey
- TE Jared Pinkney
- LB Wyatt Ray
- OL Jordan Roos
A pair of wideouts headline this list of waived players. Fitzpatrick was a fourth-round pick by the organization in this past year’s draft. The 6-foot-2 receiver was a standout during his stint at Louisville, leading to the Titans trading three picks to move up and select him. The rookie could end up falling through to the practice squad, but considering his draft stock, there’s a chance another team will claim him.
Meanwhile, Kinsey was an unheralded acquisition, but he made a name for himself following a strong preseason. The wideout finished August with 14 receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown.