With the 2024 NFL preseason officially over, now comes the hard part — which is actually already well underway.
All 32 teams begin the painful process of paring down their 90-man rosters — which are allowed in the offseason — down to the 53-man squads they’ll carry into the regular season. Many have already made early cuts with some notable players heading to free agency including OLB Randy Gregory (Buccaneers), S Ronnie Harrison (Colts), LB Deion Jones (Bills), RB Joshua Kelley (Giants). WR Denzel Mims (Jaguars), RB Boston Scott (Rams), JuJu Smith-Schuster (Patriots), DE CJ Uzoma (Eagles) and QB Mike White (Dolphins). Smith-Schuster already caught up with a new (and former) boss on Monday.
The deadline to comply with the roster is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET — meaning players will be largely released, traded, placed on injured reserve or otherwise subject to depth charts as the depth charts are finalized (for now). Another confusion will arise as players are said to be waived before clubs begin to fill their training squads – which will result in related moves.
Follow along on Monday as we track all of the day’s notable transactions ahead of tomorrow’s deadline:
There are some familiar faces among the Cowboys roster cuts
The 15 players sent packing by the Dallas Cowboys on Monday included some familiar and notable names.
NFL Points Average: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Defensive tackle Albert Huggins was released less than two weeks after drawing the ire of coach Mike McCarthy for shoving a Los Angeles Rams employee at a practice.
“Obviously, his behavior was unacceptable,” McCarthy said. According to ESPN.com.
Linebacker Damien Wilson, who started 22 games for the team from 2016-18, was also released. Defensive tackle William Fehoko Jr., a 2023 fourth-round pick, has been ruled out due to injury.
Browns roster cuts: 16 players waived Monday
The Cleveland Browns are down to 78 players after giving up 16 on Monday: S Tyler Coyle, G Wyatt Davis, K Lukasz Havricic, CB Fayne Hicks, LB Landon Honeycutt, LB Caleb Johnson, G Zach Johnson, DE Jeremiah Martin, D Roy Mbaeteka, LB Marvin Moody, T Chim Okorafor, RB Aidan Robbins, RB Jacob Saylors, LS Rex Sunahara, DE Isaiah Thomas and S Chase Williams (injury position).
And notably, the Browns return five players — including starting offensive linemen Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin and cornerback Greg Newsome II — all on their active roster after passing their physicals.
49ers area with five players
Few rosters are as loaded as the defending NFC champions … which is why so many of the San Francisco 49ers’ cuts on Monday were so recognizable. The team released two players, senior RBs Matt Breida and Ke’Shawn Vaughn, and others, including P Pressley Harvin III.
Breda is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, the first three spent with San Francisco, and has amassed nearly 3,600 yards from scrimmage, mostly in a backup role. Vaughn was a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, but didn’t make much of an impact. Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell are the primary backups to All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey. Harvin, who won the Ray Guy Award in 2020 as college football’s best punter while at Georgia Tech, spent the past three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers but was unable to beat out Mitch Wishnowski this summer.
Buccaneers roster move: Sterling Shepard is out … for now
Sterling Shepard is trying to bounce back from a torn Achilles in 2021 and a torn ACL in 2022. The wide receiver is being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported, but the team wants the 31-year-old back on the practice squad.
Shepherd caught just 10 passes in 15 games in his first season back from injuries. But the Oklahoma product hopes a reunion with former Sooners teammate Baker Mayfield will give him a spark.
Vikings roster cuts: Minnesota makes early moves
The Minnesota Vikings opened their roster Monday by signing or waived 14 players. Notable names include quarterback Matt Corral, former Carolina Panthers third-round draft pick and UFL product J.J. McCarthy signed with the team after being sidelined by a season-ending knee injury and 2023 seventh-round running back Dewayne McBride. Pick who’s the best at UAB.
The full list of players Minnesota parted with on Monday:
- QB Matte Coral
- RB Dewayne McBride
- TE Sammis Reyes
- RB Mo Ibrahim
- CB Jaylin Williams
- TE Neil Johnson
- WR Justin Hall
- OLB Owen Porter
- OL Chuck Filiaga
- OL Doug Nestor
- OL Matt Cindric
- OL Spencer Rowland
- DL Tyler Manoa
- CB AJ Green III
Steelers roster cuts: Eight players released in first wave
The Pittsburgh Steelers have begun the process of downsizing their roster.
On Monday, the team released eight players: offensive linemen Tyler Beach and Devery Hamilton, wide receivers Jacob Copeland and DJ Luther, Taejun Edwards, defensive lineman Marquis Spencer, linebacker Kiawa Tesino and defensive back Keondre Thomas.
The Seahawks are swinging another trade
After trading edge rusher Darrell Taylor to the Chicago Bears and acquiring linebacker Michael Barrett in recent days in exchange for cornerback Michael Jackson, the Seattle Seahawks agreed to another trade.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports that the team will land edge rusher Travis Gibson from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gibson, 27, had one sack for the Tennessee Titans last season but will record seven for the Chicago Bears in 2021. He filled out depth on Seattle’s rim after the Taylor trade. The Seahawks are still expected to rely mainly on Uchenna Nwosu, Dre’Mont Jones, Boye Mafe and Derick Hall.
Juju Smith-Schuster signs with the Chiefs — again
Read more
When is the NFL roster cut deadline?
All 32 teams must reduce their number of active players to 53 by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27.
What happens after the listing deadline?
NFL teams have until Wednesday, August 28 at noon ET to claim players waived as part of league-wide roster reductions. Once those demands are resolved, clubs will begin to fill their training squads.
How big are NFL practice squads?
Expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, teams are now allowed to carry 16 players on the practice squad, supplementing the 53-man roster. Up to 10 players with two or fewer earned seasons may join a given practice squad, while a maximum of six with unlimited NFL service are eligible for spots.
A 17th international player may be added if certain eligibility requirements are met.
