One year into a two-year agreement, the Rams parted ways with Jo-Lonn Dunbar as they cut their roster to 53 on Saturday.
Akeem Ayers‘ March signing made Dunbar more expendable, writes Nick Waggoner of ESPN.com.
Dunbar signed a two-year, $3.5MM deal with the Rams prior to the 2014 season that saw him reprise a similar role from 2013. The Rams initially signed Dunbar from the Saints, where he played from 2008-11 after going undrafted.
Coming off the field on most passing downs while James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree played three-down roles, Dunbar was the Rams’ worst-rated starting linebacker, per Pro Football Focus, in each of his last two seasons in St. Louis.
In 2012, however, PFF tabbed Dunbar as the Rams’ best linebacker. Dunbar played both strong- and weak-side positions with the Rams, who will go with special-teamer Daren Bates, seventh-rounder Bryce Hager and undrafted rookie Cameron Lynch behind their top trio this season.