The annual roster cut deadline in the NFL has once again led to significant changes, with teams scaling down from 90 players to the mandatory 53-player roster by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Baltimore Ravens were particularly active, trimming a variety of talent across multiple positions.
Among the more notable names, the Ravens parted ways with wide receivers Sean Ryan, Russell Gage, and Anthony Miller. Tight ends Mike Rigerman, Riley Sharp, Qadir Ismail, and Scotty Washington also found themselves without a spot on the team. Additionally, the Ravens released offensive linemen Tashawn Manning and Darrell Simpson, as well as defensive lineman Tramel Walthour, punter Jack Browning, cornerback Damarion "Pepe" Williams, quarterback Emory Jones, and running back Chris Collier.
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos made headlines by cutting linebackers Jonas Griffith and Jaylon Allen, in addition to wide receiver Jalen Virgil. On the other hand, the Green Bay Packers also let go of key players including offensive lineman Royce Newman and offensive tackle Caleb Jones. Additionally, quarterbacks Michael Pratt and Sean Clifford were released along with kicker Anders Carlson, wide receivers Jalen Wayne and Samori Toure, and defensive lineman Kenneth Odumegwu.
In another surprising move, the Houston Texans released multiple cornerbacks: Mike Ford, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and C.J. Henderson. Wide receivers Noah Brown and Quintez Cephus, safety Desmond King, quarterback Tim Boyle, and wide receiver Jaden Janke were also part of the unfortunate cuts.
The Las Vegas Raiders made decisions that included releasing quarterbacks Carter Bradley and Nathan Peterman. Wide receiver Jeff Foreman and defensive back Wood Governor were also shown the door. Similarly, the New Orleans Saints made sweeping changes, cutting defensive end Niko Lalos, wide receivers Samson Nacua and Equanimeous St. Brown, and linebacker Khaleke Hudson.
The Saints didn't stop there. They went on to release punter Lou Hedley, safeties Roderic Teamer, Lawrence Johnson, Ugo Amadi, and Johnathan Abram, and kicker Charlie Smyth. The team's cuts continued with defensive lineman Jack Heflin, offensive linemen Josiah Ezirim, Tremayne Anchrum, Shane Lemieux, center Sincere Haynesworth, and defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat.
The New York Jets made noteworthy changes as well, releasing defensive back Tre Swilling, running back Xavian Valladay, and tight end Neal Johnson. The Philadelphia Eagles also saw considerable shuffling, cutting wide receiver Parris Campbell and quarterback Will Grier. Additional releases include tight ends E.J. Jenkins and C.J. Uzomah, defensive back Parry Nickerson, and guard Max Scharping.
On the western front, the Seattle Seahawks made several strategic cuts, letting go of tight ends Tyler Mabry and Michael Ezeike, wide receivers D'Wayne Eskridge and Easop Winston, and defensive ends DeVere Levelston and Jamie Sheriff. Further, defensive tackle Mario Kendricks, linebackers Easton Gibbs, Jon Rhattigan, and Devin Richardson, safety Ty Okada, running back George Holani, and defensive back Willie Roberts were also released.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made their presence known by cutting wide receiver Sterling Shepard, defensive lineman Eric Banks, and linebacker Randy Gregory. Lastly, the Washington Commanders released several notable players, including defensive ends Andre Jones and KJ Henry, wide receivers Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Brycen Tremayne.
The Commanders didn’t stop there. They also released wide receivers Martavis Bryant, Mitch Tinsley, and Davion Davis, along with running backs Chris Rodriguez and Michael Wiley. Cornerbacks Chigozie Anusiem, A.J. Woods, Nick Whiteside II, Tariq Castro-Fields, and James Pierre were cut too. Guard Julian Good-Jones, center J.C. Hassenauer, linebacker Bo Bauer, defensive back Ben Nikkel, and kicker Riley Patterson rounded out their list of roster casualties.
Despite all the tumult, every team has now finalized their initial 53-man rosters. The tactical decisions made during this roster cut deadline reflect the ongoing challenges and strategic considerations inherent in professional football. With these new rosters in place, teams and fans alike can look forward to the commencement of an exciting NFL season.