NFL Teams Cut Rosters to 53 Players as Trades Dominate the Day

Roster cutdown day in the NFL was marked by a flurry of trades and notable cuts.

Among the trades, kicker Wil Lutz reunited with coach Sean Payton in Denver, the Eagles acquired tight end Albert Okwuegbunam from the Broncos, and veteran kicker Nick Folk moved from New England to Tennessee.

Several players were on the move in trades, including defensive end Boogie Bashum, defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr., cornerbacks Noah Igbinoghene and Kelvin Joseph, offensive lineman Dan Feeney and Kendrick Green, and wide receiver/returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette.

However, running back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts wasn’t traded, but he will be placed on the physically unable to perform list and will miss the first four games.

In a surprising move, the New England Patriots released second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe, who had a 2-0 record as a starter last year but struggled in the preseason. The Patriots currently don’t have a backup quarterback on their roster.

Other notable cuts around the league included the Bengals releasing quarterback Trevor Siemian in favor of Jake Browning as Joe Burrow’s backup, the Philadelphia Eagles releasing punter Arryn Siposs, and the Cleveland Browns parting ways with fourth-round pick kicker Cade York.

Punter Thomas Morstead was among the New York Jets’ cuts, but he’s expected to be re-signed after the team clears roster space. The San Francisco 49ers kept Brandon Allen as their third-string quarterback after trading away Trey Lance, and the Atlanta Falcons kept Logan Woodside as their third quarterback behind starter Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.

The Miami Dolphins released veteran wide receiver Chosen Anderson, while the Dallas Cowboys cut veteran quarterback Will Grier. The New Orleans Saints released several veterans, including cornerback Bradley Roby, linebacker Jaylon Smith, safety Jonathan Abram, and punter Blake Gillikin.