It’s NFL cutdown day! Every team in the league had to reduce their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, which meant hundreds of players had to be purged. Here are the most notable NFL cuts today for each team.
Most notable cut for every NFL team
As they pare down their rosters, NFL teams could trade away players or shift them to various injury lists (injured reserve, reserve/physically unable to perform, or reserve/non-football injury). Here, we’ll focus on players who were either waived or released.
Any players with fewer than four seasons of accrued NFL experience will hit the waiver wire, while vested veterans (at least four years of service) will immediately reach free agency.
Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Devon Kennard
Despite losing Chandler Jones in free agency, the Cardinals still decided to part ways with Kennard, who restructured his contract earlier this offseason to stay in Arizona. Markus Golden and Dennis Gardeck will be the Cards’ top edge rushers, while rookie third-round picks Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders should also see snaps. Kennard could attract interest from another team as a rotational pass rusher.
Atlanta Falcons: TEs Anthony Firkser and MyCole Pruitt
Both Firkser and Pruitt boasted experience with Arthur Smith in Tennessee, but that wasn’t enough for them to make Atlanta’s initial roster. Both players will hit the free agent market after being released by the Falcons. Parker Hesse, John FitzPatrick, and converted quarterback Feleipe Franks will compete to serve as Atlanta’s No. 2 tight end behind All-World talent Kyle Pitts.
Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Steven Means
With Tyus Bowser on the PUP list and David Ojabo likely to be placed on IR, the Ravens don’t have much depth on the edge. Odafe Oweh and Justin Houston look like the Week 1 starters, but the Ravens cut both Means and Daelin Hayes on Tuesday. Means started 25 games for the Falcons over the past two seasons, but he couldn’t make Baltimore’s initial roster despite their need for EDGE help. However, given that he’s a vested veteran, Means could be quickly re-signed without passing through waivers.
Buffalo Bills: TE O.J. Howard
The Bills gave up on Howard despite handing him more than $3 million in guarantees. He’s still only 27 and comes with a first-round pedigree, but Howard was beaten out by Quintin Morris and Tommy Sweeney for a backup job behind starting TE Dawson Knox. Several teams are already “researching” Howard, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, so he’ll likely land with a new club soon.
Carolina Panthers: WR Brandon Zylstra
Zylstra had played at least 55% of his team’s special teams snaps in three out of the last four seasons, and he also had the best offensive year of his career in 2021. The Concordia-Moorhead product posted 18 receptions for 250 yards and one touchdown for the Panthers last season, all of which were career highs.
However, Zylstra is now entering his age-29 campaign. Carolina likely wanted to get younger on special teams, while his receiving opportunities should go to recent acquisition Laviska Shenault.
Chicago Bears: OL Michael Schofield
The Bears signed Schofield in July to compete for a starting job, but they’re cutting him after 2021 second-round pick Teven Jenkins played well enough in the preseason to claim the right guard gig. The fact that Chicago didn’t keep Schofield around — even as a backup — bodes well for Jenkins’ development. Schofield can play tackle and guard, and that versatility could get him looks as a free agent.
Cincinnati Bengals: P Drue Chrisman
Kevin Huber will suit up as the Bengals’ punter for the 14th consecutive season after Cincinnati waived Chrisman on Tuesday. Huber finished as a roughly league-average punter in 2021, per Puntalytics, so there was a thought that Chrisman, a 2021 UDFA out of Ohio State, could unseat the veteran. Instead, Chrisman should land on Cincinnati’s practice squad if he clears waivers.
Cleveland Browns: OL Blake Hance
Nominally a guard, Hance started eight games and played 58% of the Browns’ offensive snaps last season while playing both left and right tackle. His versatility and relative youth (26) should get him a look on another roster. Cleveland also cut Josh Rosen, who was competing with Josh Dobbs to back up Jacoby Brissett while Deshaun Watson serves his 11-game suspension.
Dallas Cowboys: DT Carlos Watkins
The Cowboys cut backup quarterback Cooper Rush, but he’s expected to be re-signed this week after Dallas sorts out the rest of its roster. Watkins, meanwhile, was a 14-game starter for the Cowboys last season, but they’ve decided to get younger on the interior defensive line. Neville Gallimore and Osa Odighizuwa should see more snaps next season now that Watkins is gone.
Denver Broncos: QB Josh Johnson
Brett Rypien has won Denver’s backup quarterback competition following the release of Johnson, who appeared in four games for the Jets and Ravens in 2021. Johnson is 36 years old, but his experience goes a long way, and he could hold appeal for teams in need of a second or third quarterback. The Broncos would like to re-sign him to their practice squad, according to Mike Klis of 9News.
Detroit Lions: CB A.J. Parker
After joining the Lions as UDFA last May, Parker eventually started seven games and played 65% of Detroit’s defensive snaps as the team’s primary nickel corner. Rival teams could be interested, but the Lions will likely move forward with free agent addition Mike Hughes in the slot. Seventh-round rookie Chase Lucas and converted safety Will Harris could also factor in.
Green Bay Packers: S Shawn Davis
Davis was in line to serve as Green Bay’s third safety behind Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos, but he recently injured his knee. As such, the Packers could waive him with an injury settlement. Now, career special teamer Dallin Leavitt might be Green Bay’s top backup safety, per Ryan Wood of USA Today. Davis could land on a practice squad in the coming days, depending on the severity of his injury.
Houston Texans: RB Marlon Mack
Just when we thought Dameon Pierce’s fantasy ADP couldn’t get any higher, the Texans have released Mack, who signed a one-year deal in April. Rex Burkhead is now solidified as Pierce’s top backup, while Dare Ogunbowale should also make Houston’s initial roster. Mack received just 28 carries for the Colts last season and still needs to prove he’s fully recovered from his 2020 Achilles tear.
Indianapolis Colts: RB Phillip Lindsay
Lindsay had a shot to stick as Indy’s third running back behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, but the Colts will go with youth instead. Lindsay, 28, handled 88 attempts for the Texans and Dolphins in 2021 but managed only 2.8 yards per carry. The Colts also waived Ty’Son Williams, clearing the way for Deon Jackson to make the team as a backup RB.
Jacksonville Jaguars: S Rudy Ford
The Jaguars got a headstart on their roster reduction by cutting Ford on Monday. While he’s primarily a special teamer (and an excellent one at that), Ford also played 43% of Jacksonville’s defensive snaps in 2021. The Jaguars saved roughly $2 million by releasing Ford, but he could attract interest around the league as an ST ace with the ability to spot start on defense.
Kansas City Chiefs: OL Austin Reiter
Reiter was the Chiefs’ starting center in 2019 and 2020 before hitting the open market in 2021. He bounced around a bit and started five games for the Dolphins before landing in Kansas City once again in March. Reiter is 30 years old and hasn’t demonstrated a ton of positional versatility. But given his starting experience, he could make sense as a reserve for a number of teams, especially if any interested clubs think he could play guard as well.
Las Vegas Raiders: OL Alex Leatherwood
Not only did the Raiders waive Leatherwood, the 17th overall pick in the 2021 draft, but they also traded cornerback Trayvon Mullen to the Cardinals. It’s safe to say new Vegas decision-makers Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler aren’t going to be shy about moving on from Mike Mayock/Jon Gruden selections. With Leatherwood gone, seventh-round rookie Thayer Munford could be in line to start at right tackle for the Raiders.
Los Angeles Chargers: DT Christian Covington
The Chargers built up their defensive line depth this offseason, but there was still thought to be room for Covington, who started 14 games for the Bengals as recently as 2020. Covington has played at least 250 snaps for four consecutive years, so he could attract interest as a rotational interior defender. Los Angeles will roll with Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Jerry Tillery, Morgan Fox, and rookie Otito Ogbonnia at defensive tackle.
Los Angeles Rams: WR/TE Jacob Harris
Harris was an absolutely electric athlete coming out of Central Florida, and his 9.88 Relative Athletic Score helped get him selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. After tearing his ACL last November, Harris was converting from tight end to wide receiver this summer. Whether he continues his career as a TE or a WR, Harris’ athleticism should afford him another opportunity in the NFL.
Miami Dolphins: RB Sony Michel
The Dolphins’ most notable move came on Monday when they cut Michel, who they’d signed to a one-year deal in the spring. Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert are clearly Miami’s RB1 and RB2, so Michel — who received $850K guaranteed — was battling Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed for a reserve spot. Michel posted 845 yards and four touchdowns for the Rams in 2021, but he might have to wait for an injury before he lands another job.
Minnesota Vikings: QB Kellen Mond
First-year Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah isn’t wasting any time moving on from former GM Rick Spielman’s 2021 draft class. Three of Minnesota’s four third-round picks — Mond, OL Wyatt Davis, and LB Chazz Surratt — have been waived. Mond had been competing with Sean Mannion for the Vikings’ backup QB job, but both signal-callers became obsolete once Minnesota acquired Nick Mullens from the Raiders.
New England Patriots: ST Justin Bethel
The Patriots may have cut more notable players than any other team, as they parted ways with CB Terrance Mitchell, DL Henry Anderson, TE Devin Asiasi, and RBs Kevin Harris and J.J. Taylor. But Bethel is one of the best special teams gunners in the NFL, and he played 347 ST snaps in 2021 — second-most on the Patriots roster and 21st-most league-wide. He could potentially be re-signed later this week.
New Orleans Saints: QB Ian Book
The Saints selected Book in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, but he’s simply never looked comfortable on the field. Thrown into duty for one start against the Dolphins last season, Book managed a 2.2 QBR on 20 attempts. After a lackluster preseason performance, Book is on waivers, although he could come back to New Orleans’ practice squad as a third quarterback behind Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton.
New York Giants: RB Jashaun Corbin
Corbin, an undrafted free agent out of Florida State, played well in the preseason, but he apparently didn’t do enough to capture a roster spot in New York. The Giants are pretty thin at running back behind Saquon Barkley, as Matt Breida, Antonio Williams, and Gary Brightwell will begin the year as Big Blue’s backup RBs. If Corbin sneaks through waivers, he could land on New York’s practice squad.
New York Jets: S Jason Pinnock
Pinnock, a fifth-round pick in 2021, only played 201 snaps as a rookie for the Jets, but he’d reportedly been trending upward in his second pro campaign. Per Connor Hughes of SNY, Pinnock had been receiving first-team snaps when fellow safety Lamarcus Joyner needed a breather. Ashtyn Davis looks like New York’s third safety behind Joyner and Jordan Whitehead.
Philadelphia Eagles: S Anthony Harris
In tandem with acquiring defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson from the Saints, the Eagles released Harris, who started 14 games in 2021. Philadelphia will take on $1.247 million by cutting Harris, who was the Vikings’ franchise player as recently as 2020. Although he’s 31, Harris should still attract interest as a free agent, and there’s a chance he could return to Philadelphia as a depth piece.
Pittsburgh Steelers: OL John Leglue
The Steelers cut Leglue, a 2019 undrafted free agent, after he started five games for them in 2021. As PFN’s Mike Kaye notes, Leglue can play all three interior spots and also has experience as a long snapper. That type of versatility could get the Tulane alum noticed on the waiver wire. If he passes through waivers, Leglue looks like a prime candidate to stick on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.
San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Kemoko Turay
The 49ers will have to eat $1 million in dead money to cut Turay, who they signed in May. Turay posted 5 1/2 sacks for the Colts in 2021, but San Francisco’s defensive line is so deep that he couldn’t make the cut. Indy is looking for edge help, so Turay could find his way back to the Colts.
San Francisco also surprisingly released offensive lineman Jason Poe, who had played well in the preseason and had become a favorite of 49ers left tackle Trent Williams.
Seattle Seahawks: DB Marquise Blair
Blair was the 47th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he’s barely managed to get on the field. An ACL tear in 2020 and Seattle’s acquisition of both Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs have limited Blair’s opportunities at the NFL level. He’s just 25 years old and capable of playing both slot corner and safety, so Blair should receive some interest, either on waivers or as a free agent once injuries pile up around the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Tyler Johnson
The Bucs are so deep at receiver that they did not need Johnson, a 2020 fifth-round pick who played 52% of the club’s offensive snaps a season ago while posting a 36-350-0 line. Tampa Bay will initially have seven receivers on its depth chart: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage, Julio Jones, Breshad Perriman, Jaleon Darden, and Scotty Miller. Johnson, 24, should draw a lot of interest on waivers.
While the Buccaneers also released defensive back Logan Ryan, he’s expected to be re-signed after Tampa Bay places center Ryan Jensen on injured reserve.
Tennessee Titans: P Brett Kern
Kern had been the Titans’ punter since 2009, but they’ve moving on from the 36-year-old. Tennessee cut Kern on Monday in favor of rookie UDFA Ryan Stonehouse. The move is largely financial, as Kern was set to earn $2.1 million ($900K guaranteed) while Stonehouse will make the league minimum. Kern, a first-team All-Pro in 2019, should be able to find a landing spot if he wants to continue his career.
Washington Commanders: TE Kendall Blanton
The Commanders had recently claimed Blanton off waivers from the Rams, but they opted to keep five other tight ends over him, including two rookie UDFAs in Armani Rodgers and Curtis Hodges. The Chiefs were the other team to put in a claim for Blanton, so KC could be a landing spot for the 26-year-old.
2022 NFL roster cuts tracker
You can sort our NFL cuts tracker table by team and position and search by player name in the appropriate fields. For more information on roster cuts and the process, scroll below the tracker.