NFL roster cutdown tracker and live updates (2024)

NFL roster cutdown day is approaching fast.

With the preseason ending Sunday evening, teams must trim its rosters from 90 to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. While some have already started, others will make plenty of moves ahead of Tuesday.

What moves will your favorite team make? Which surprise players make the cut? Which surprises get released?

The Athletic's NFL beat reporters have all the coverage, analysis and roster projections as the start of the 2024 season comes into focus. Be sure to stay tuned here and refresh this live blog for the latest. And catch up on league happenings from last week here.

Required reading

Preseason Week 3 scores and schedule

2024 fantasy football draft kit

NFL Projection Model, AFC win totals

NFL Projection Model, NFC win totals

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The Washington Commanders have removed the Sean Taylor memorial installation at Commanders Field and plan to build a statue of the late safety, the team announced Saturday.

Taylor died in 2007 at the age of 24 after he was shot by intruders in his home. He was in the midst of his fourth season with Washington.

In 2022, the franchise unveiled an installation honoring Taylor and received heavy criticism from the fans for it essentially being a mannequin. Fans were also upset with the installation having a Nike jersey instead of Reebok and lacking tape on the facemask like Taylor wore. The team soon made those changes, among others.

The Commanders also retired Taylor’s No. 21 in 2021.

Read more here.

This position group is one of the most challenging to project, with Miller, Fitzpatrick and Watkins all on the fringe. It’s possible the Steelers will keep just five receivers to have 10 O-linemen on the roster. However, I’d like to see them reward Fitzpatrick for his hard work on the practice squad and continued development, which showed Saturday with a 59-yard catch-and-run. Though Watkins’ speed is intriguing, his hands might be too inconsistent.

Wide receiver (6): George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson*, Scotty Miller, Dez Fitzpatrick

Cut: Quez Watkins, Jacob Copeland, Jaray Jenkins, T.J. Luther, Duece Watts

Read more Steelers roster projections here.

Today, the Colts released:

• WR Tyrie Cleveland
• S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
• DE Derek Rivers
• WR Greg Ward

I’m a bit surprised at Harrison. That’s a shock.

They’ve also waived:

• CB Clay Fields III
• K Spencer Shrader
• QB Kedon Slovis
• WR Derek Slywka
• LB Mike Smith Jr.

Elijah Chatman was just doing his job. At least, that’s the way the New York Giants rookie saw it.

But chasing down a running back nearly 50 yards away from the line of scrimmage to attempt a touchdown-saving tackle isn’t typically in a 278-pound defensive lineman’s job description.

“I didn’t think about it at the time,” Chatman said following his incredible effort during the Giants’ preseason game against the Houston Texans last week. “I just ran him down because I was the last line of defense.”

Chatman, an undrafted rookie signed after a minicamp tryout, was already the feel-good story and biggest breakout player at training camp, but this hustle play endeared him not only to his teammates but earned him a new legion of fans, as well.

It also seems to have gone a long way in solidifying his chances of making the Giants’ 53-man roster. Chatman, who played well into the second half last week in Houston, didn’t even dress for Saturday night’s final preseason game against the New York Jets — the same can be said for almost all Giants starters and those expected to make the team.

“That was a heck of an effort play,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said earlier this week. “So, that’s something you evaluate is people’s effort, how they run to the football. Same thing offensively, clean in the pocket, chasing the ball. That was a great effort play by him.”

Read more here.

Leonard Taylor III got the most hype out of the Jets undrafted rookie class because at one point in his Miami career, he was viewed as an early-round prospect — and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had him with a fourth-/fifth-round grade. In the early days of OTAs and minicamp, Taylor didn’t stand out, and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton said it likely took him some time to adjust to the Jets’ style of play on the defensive line.

Over the last couple of weeks, Taylor has really come on, capped by a dominant performance Saturday where, at one point in the second quarter, he was involved in a sack on three straight plays and added a tackle for loss in the second quarter, too.

SEATTLE — In his head-coaching debut at Lumen Field, Mike Macdonald opted to trot his starters out before an audience of 68,190 in the Seattle Seahawks’ preseason finale on Saturday night.

Macdonald couldn’t have asked for a much better showing from both sides of the ball. His defense allowed one first down, and that was because of a roughing the passer penalty. After that, defensive tackle Jarran Reed killed the drive with a third-down sack. Seattle’s offense then went 62 yards in five plays — all dropbacks — and found the end zone on a 21-yard connection between Geno Smith and DK Metcalf.

The focus for the rest of the night was on the reserves fighting to make the 53-man roster, which will be finalized Tuesday afternoon. Seattle’s 16-man practice squad will be put together shortly after that.

Read more here.

Neither Leonard Floyd nor Yetur Gross-Matos suffered severe, long-term knee injuries in Friday’s game, Kyle Shanahan said Sunday. Floyd is considered day to day while Gross-Matos is week to week. His availability for Week 1 against the New York Jets hasn’t been determined, Shanahan said.

The defensive ends were injured on back-to-back plays in the first quarter Friday when their legs became pinned beneath another player and were bent back. Neither was on the field from that point forth, although they were seen on camera walking around on the sideline with no obvious issues.

Floyd is expected to start opposite Nick Bosa this season, giving the 49ers their best edge-rushing duo since the start of 2019 when Dee Ford was healthy. Floyd hasn’t missed a game since 2017.

Gross-Matos, meanwhile, is penciled in as the top backup. The 49ers like his size – 6-5, 270 pounds – and think he can line up inside on obvious passing downs in addition to setting the edge on base downs.

The 49ers already were thin at defensive end before Friday's game. Second-year player Robert Beal Jr. likely will take the fourth spot at the position when initial rosters come into focus later this week. After that there are no obvious candidates and, with rosters due to be trimmed Tuesday, Shanahan wasn’t eager to share the full depth chart at the position. Alex Barrett, Sam Okuayinonu and Jonathan Garvin filled in during the second half Friday.

The 49ers undoubtedly will be scanning the waiver wires for defensive ends on Wednesday. However, there have been a rash of injuries at the position league-wide this summer and it’s hard to see any quality candidates becoming available.

The Giants are going to ride Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in the hopes that a dominant pass rush will hide weaknesses in the secondary. Boogie Basham should assume the Jihad Ward role as an early-down thumper on the edge against the run to allow the pass rushers to catch a breather.

Azeez Ojulari’s status bears monitoring. He’s clearly the third-best edge rusher on the roster, and the Giants need some depth behind Burns and Thibodeaux. But Ojulari hasn’t had a strong camp, and it’s hard to find many snaps for him since he’s a pass-rush specialist playing behind two workhorses who will be on the field for most passing downs. There has been no evidence Ojulari will move inside on passing downs. He doesn’t have the body type for that role, and he didn’t line up inside for a single snap during camp.

All of that makes Ojulari a potential trade chip. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and doesn’t have a future in New York with Burns and Thibodeaux locked in as cornerstones. The Giants could try to deal Ojulari for help at another position like corner.

Benton Whitley could be the beneficiary if Ojulari gets dealt. Even if Ojulari remains, Whitley is a sleeper for a roster spot. He’s had a strong camp and has played on starting special teams units.

Rams started cuts today, waiving 12 players:

JJ Laap

Blake Larson

Alec Lindstrom

Cam McCutcheon

SaRodorick Thompson

Dresser Winn

Matt Kaskey

Ochaun Mathis

Grant Miller

Olakunle Fatukasi

Boston Scott

Carlos Watkins

Check out this play from the Saints’ Samson Nacua, brother of Rams WR Puka Nacua, against the Titans in today’s preseason game.

It was nearly a Kick-6 but Samson stepped out of bounds.

The Titans got an eyeful of what second-round pick T’Vondre Sweat can bring to the defense this season on consecutive snaps, plus a confidence boost for the first-team offense, in a 30-27 preseason win today at New Orleans.

First-year coach Brian Callahan opted to give starters on both sides significant work, two weeks before the opener at Chicago, and that meant all starters but injured receiver DeAndre Hopkins giving it a go on offense. Will Levis was sharp right away on an 84-yard touchdown drive and added a field goal drive to finish 7 for 8 for 118 yards – against mostly Saints defensive backups.

Dennard Wilson’s aggressive defense has won quite a bit more than it has lost against the Titans’ first-team offense, so this served as a feel-good afternoon even though it wasn’t against the best possible competition. Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph came in and led another field-goal drive, playing behind the starting offensive line.

That line, retooled and now coached by the legendary Bill Callahan, helped pile up 216 total yards on three drives, using 34 plays and taking 18:02 off the clock. Third-string quarterback Malik Willis, an interesting roster decision for Brian Callahan, threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Bryce Oliver.

Sweat barged through to blow up a run, then showed quick feet on a pass-rush move to pick up a pressure and force an incompletion. Those are plays he has been making consistently in camp. He has yet to face another team next to star tackle Jeffery Simmons, but the Chicago Bears will see a lot of that on opening day.

The Falcons released 13 players on Sunday, beginning the process of shaving down to the 53-man roster that must be in place Tuesday by 4 p.m. ET for all NFL teams.

Atlanta didn’t have any surprise cuts in the early wave – which included The Falcons have released offensive linemen Zack Bailey, Jaryd Jones-Smith and John Leglue, cornerbacks William Hooper and Trey Vaval, tight ends Austin Stogner and Jordan Thomas, wide receivers Josh Ali, safety Lukas Denis, linebackers Storey Jackson and Donavan Mutin, outside linebacker Bradlee Anae and quarterback John Paddock.

Stogner, Mutin and Paddock looked at times this preseason like practice squad candidates and could return to Atlanta if they aren’t picked up by another team. Mutin had 18 tackles in the Falcons final preseason game.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Reed Blankenship, James Bradberry, Caden Sterns make the cut at safety in the latest Eagles 53-man roster projection.

Active/physically unable to play: Sydney Brown

Practice squad: Tristin McCollum, Andre Sam

The Eagles don’t have enough depth at safety to dispatch James Bradberry. Sydney Brown is still rehabbing from his season-ending ACL injury. This projects a scenario in which Brown is moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns and must sit out the first four games. Caden Sterns, who suffered a season-ending torn patella in 2023, hasn’t yet dressed out, and the Eagles would only cut him before they got a proper look at him if they felt Tristin McCollum or Andre Sam are better options. Under these circ*mstances, it’s not really sensible for the Eagles to get rid of Bradberry unless they’re able to acquire someone else of equal or better value. If C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship stay healthy, this depth issue may never see the light of day. But Gardner-Johnson already missed time in training camp with a shoulder injury. If something similar happens in the regular season, safety becomes a big target for opponents to exploit.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — New Chicago Bears edge rusher Darrell Taylor has played for only one team in the NFL — the Seattle Seahawks. He had just spent the past few months learning Mike Macdonald’s new defense, and now he has to learn Matt Eberflus.’

But the simple scheme switch brought a big smile to Taylor as he met the media Saturday, his first day at Halas Hall.

“I didn’t know that much, but I know we’re a 4-3 defense and I’m excited to be moving forward, like going straight all the time. I’m excited about that part,” he said. “I get to play forward. Get to put my hands on guys and stuff like that. So I’m excited to be in this defense and just hearing from the guys, there’s an opportunity to rush the passer here and I’m excited to do that, too.”

With the Seahawks, Taylor was a standup linebacker in their 3-4 scheme. As the odd man out in their outside linebackers room, the Bears saw an opportunity, sending one of their sixth-round picks to Seattle for Taylor, who had 5 1/2 sacks and eight QB hits last season.

In 2022, Taylor had 9 1/2 sacks and 13 QB hits. The entire Bears defensive line that season combined for 10 1/2 sacks.

“Taylor, really good edge guy,” Eberflus said. “He’s had good sack production. We feel good about that. I think he brings a different skill set than we have out there in terms of the way he rushes. What I like most about him is his motor. He’s got a great motor. He finishes. Needs some refinement at the top of the rush, which we’ll work on that, but he pursues and does the things, everything that everybody else does in the building that we expect and what we hold guys accountable to.”

Read more here.

LAS VEGAS — In the 2017 preseason, an undrafted free agent made a splash for the San Francisco 49ers at running back. That was Matt Breida, who — as an unestablished rookie — wore jersey No. 49 while gashing his way to a 53-man roster spot.

Running backs generally don’t prefer jersey numbers in the 40s. That’s fullback territory. The 20s seem to be the most coveted, but priority goes to veterans. And before the roster cutdown, when teams carry 90 players, rookie running backs don’t have their pick of the litter. So it was a point of pride for Breida when he made the 53-man roster in 2017 and, thanks to several numbers freeing up, was able to switch to No. 22 for the regular season.

“He’d talk about the ‘two-two’,” 49ers running backs coach Bobby Turner said of Breida earlier this month, pointing at an imaginary jersey number on his chest, “and how he worked to come from the 49.”

Breida delivered three productive seasons for the 49ers before a trade sent him to the Miami Dolphins in 2020. He later played for the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. Earlier this month, Breida — who’s now 29 years old — re-signed with the 49ers. He’s now wearing No. 28. And Breida now has a young teammate who’s following in at least some of his footsteps, seven years later.

That’s rookie running back Isaac Guerendo, who’s wearing that No. 49. His preseason debut in Friday’s 24-24 tie against the Las Vegas Raiders was an electric one, thanks especially to a 93-yard kick return in the first half — the longest runback so far under the NFL’s new dynamic return rules.

Turner said that Guerendo asked for a number in the 20s over a phone call shortly after the 49ers drafted him in the fourth round of April’s NFL Draft. But nothing was available, so Guerendo had to start with the No. 49 — and it reminded Turner of Breida’s rookie surge.

“Don’t let that number deceive you,” Turner said with a chuckle. “I’ve had a few backs wear that number.”

Read more here.