Buccaneers To Release QB Kyle Trask
Teddy Bridgewater‘s Buccaneers deal looks like it will lead to a relocation for the team’s previous backup. Kyle Trask has been informed he will be waived, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
This will come via an injury settlement or a waived/injured designation, per Fowler, as Trask has dealt with a shoulder issue lately. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that the shoulder issue is only considered “slight.”
A former second-round pick, Trask has spent his entire professional career in Tampa Bay. His first two campaigns saw him as a deep-depth-chart option behind Tom Brady, and he’s spent the past two years serving as Baker Mayfield‘s primary backup.
Considering his backup status, Trask hasn’t gotten much of a look during the regular season. In total, he’s appeared in seven career games, completing four of his 11 pass attempts for 28 yards. The QB previously showed his ability during his time at Florida, where he tossed 69 touchdowns in 27 games. This included a 2020 season where he threw 48 touchdowns en route to a second-team All-SEC nod.
While Trask can’t point to an extensive NFL resume, he has worked under a pair of former coordinators-turned-coaches in Dave Canales and Liam Coen, so perhaps he could find a gig in either of those spots. Fowler also mentions the Raiders as a potential option considering Trask’s connection to GM John Spytek coupled with Aidan O’Connell‘s recent injury. Temporarily, he may have to settle for a practice squad job.
With the move, Bridgewater has secured his spot as Tampa’s QB2. The organization is also rostering UDFA Connor Bazelak.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Panthers Release K Matthew Wright, Waive 17
The Panthers settled their kicker situation and halved their quarterback depth chart. Here are the first wave of Carolina cuts ahead of Tuesday’s roster-setting deadline:
Released:
Waived:
- QB Jack Plummer
- QB Bryce Perkins
- RB Emani Bailey
- RB Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams
- WR Kobe Hudson
- WR Jacolby George
- WR TJ Luther
- TE Dominique Dafney
- OL Steven Losoya
- OL Luke Kandra
- OLB JJ Weaver
- LB Jacoby Windmon
- CB JaTravis Broughton
- CB Mello Dotson
- CB Tre Swilling
- S Jack Henderson
- S Isaac Gifford
The Wright release leaves rookie UDFA Ryan Fitzgerald as the only kicker on Carolina’s roster. Making a career as a fill-in kicker (save for a full-season 2022 Jaguars stop), Wright has kicked for six teams in games. This was the veteran specialist’s second Panthers stop; he filled in for Eddy Pineiro for a game during the 2023 season.
The Panthers did not re-sign Pineiro this offseason; as of now, they are planning to go with Fitzgerald, a Florida State alum part of the team’s priority free agent class this year. Dave Canales said recently the Panthers were still looking around at kicker. They are a team to watch regarding a late addition — via the waiver wire or free agency. It should be noted Pineiro, the Panthers’ three-year option who is the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history, remains available.
Perkins and Plummer brought the Panthers’ QB count to four; now, only Bryce Young and Andy Dalton are rostered. One of the QBs figures to receive a look for the practice squad, but the Panthers will have other options to look at as P-squad candidates following the other 31 teams’ cuts. Teams are seeing an early preview of who will be available today, as dozens are being released around the league. Perkins only signed with the Panthers last week; Plummer spent most of last season on Carolina’s practice squad, making him a more realistic candidate to land there.
Bengals Release DT Taven Bryan, Waive 11
The Bengals are now among the teams to announce some early cuts. With rosters required to be at 53 in less than 24 hours, Cincinnati parted ways with 12 players early:
Released:
- DT Taven Bryan
Waived:
- DT McTelvin Agim
- CB Nate Brooks
- WR Cole Burgess
- RB Quali Conley
- S Shaquan Loyal
- WR Rashod Owens
- C Andrew Raym
- CB Lance Robinson
- G Andrew Stueber
- QB Payton Thorne
- LB Craig Young
A former first-round Jaguars pick, Bryan has settled into a rotational role after not panning out like Jacksonville hoped. Bryan still started 13 combined games for the Colts over the past two seasons, stopping through Indianapolis after a 2022 season as a Cleveland starter. For his career, the Florida alum has started 46 games. His $1.42MM Bengals contract did not contain any guaranteed money. Cincy has 2024 Day 2 draftees Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson as backups to B.J. Hill and offseason addition T.J. Slaton.
A 2022 Patriots seventh-round pick, Stueber played in seven Bengals games lats season. Brooks, a UFL performer attempting to resume a stalled NFL career, went to back-to-back Bengals camps but has not seen game action since 2020. The Bengals still have a ways to go on their 90-to-53 journey, which must be done by 3pm CT Tuesday.
Saints Waive 13 Players
The Saints have taken a step toward the 53-man roster limit. In addition to releasing running back Cam Akers, the team announced on Monday that the following 13 players have been waived:
- P James Burnip
- WR Roderick Daniels Jr.
- DE Jasheen Davis
- WR Moochie Dixon
- T Josiah Ezirim
- TE Seth Green
- G Kyle Hergel
- TE Michael Jacobson
- DE Jeremiah Martin
- T Jonathan Mendoza
- G Mike Panasiuk
- LB Tyreem Powell
- DE Omari Thomas
Each player listed will now hit the waiver wire. Claims can be made through Wednesday of this week, the first day in which practice squads can be put together. Several of the Saints’ cuts from today and tomorrow are likely to wind up on the team’s taxi squad in advance of Week 1.
Burnip was part of the Saints’ undrafted free agent class this spring. The Alabama product was brought in as competition at the position, but today’s news means he will not handle punting duties to begin the campaign. Fellow undrafted rookie Kai Kroeger is now the only punter on New Orleans’ roster.
Bears Move CB Zah Frazier To Reserve/NFI List, Cut 11
The Bears were among the teams which moved early in beginning their roster cuts. Chicago has announced another batch of moves today while continuing to move toward the requisite 53:
Placed on Reserve/NFI list:
- CB Zah Frazier
Released:
- DB Tre Flowers
- RB Royce Freeman
- OL Joshua Miles
Waived:
- S Millard Bradford
- DL Xavier Carlton
- S Alex Cook
- LB Power Echols
- CB Kaleb Hayes
- QB Austin Reed
- RB Ian Wheeler
- TE Joel Wilson
As a result of today’s transactions, the Bears are down to 73 on their roster. Like all other teams, they have until tomorrow afternoon to reach the roster limit.
Frazier will be required to miss at least the first four weeks of the season given his spot on the non-football injury list. Losing the fifth-round rookie until at least October adds further to the injury issues at the cornerback position for Chicago. Terrell Smith was placed on injured reserve yesterday, ending his season.
The tight end spot is crowded for the Bears, so Wilson being let go comes as little surprise. After leading the team in preseason receptions, though, he could remain in the Windy City through the start of the campaign. KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports Chicago plans to retain the 25-year-old via the practice squad provided he clears waivers.
Titans Cut 16 Players
The Titans are among the teams to make early decisions on roster cuts. Teams have barely 24 hours to set their initial 53-man rosters. Here are the 16 players Tennessee has parted with on its journey from 90 to 53:
Released:
Waived:
- DB Joshuah Bledsoe
- DT Josiah Bronson
- LB Amari Burney
- DE Desmond Evans
- DB Jermari Harris
- WR Jha’Quan Jackson
- DB Jalen Kimber
- DB Clarence Lewis
- DB Davion Ross
- WR TJ Sheffield
- DT T.J. Smith
- DB Julius Wood
Waived/Injured:
- WR Matt Landers
Mustipher is the most notable name included here, having started 40 games for the Bears as their primary center from 2020-22. He has been unable to commandeer a similar role elsewhere, bouncing around the league since his 2023 Chicago exit. Mustipher started one game for the Chargers last season, joining the Titans for no guaranteed money. Hambright and Gaziano each debuted in 2020; the former played in four Titans games last season.
Cowboys Begin Roster Cuts
Monday has seen the Cowboys make a number of roster moves. Several further cuts are needed before tomorrow afternoon, but these eight players have officially been let go:
Waived:
- G Nick Broeker
- DT Denzel Daxon
- WR Josh Kelly
- TE Tyler Neville
- CB Troy Pride
- TE John Stephens
Released:
Waived-injured:
Collins was informed of his release yesterday. The move ends his second Cowboys stint, one which began earlier this month. The 32-year-old made 71 starts during his first run in Dallas, but after spending 2022 as the Bengals’ right tackle he has has yet to make a regular season appearance. That is set to continue into the coming campaign.
Pride played two games for the Cowboys last season and represented a depth option at the cornerback spot given the team’s numerous injury issues at the moment. That group received a boost with yesterday’s news that Trevon Diggs has been activated from the PUP list, however, allowing him to begin the year on the active roster. Pride could be retained as depth on the practice squad if he clears waivers.
Matthew will revert to injured reserve once he passes through waivers. He is likely to be released via an injury settlement once that takes place. That would allow the 28-year-old to sign elsewhere once he is healthy.
Eagles To Waive QB Kyle McCord
A day after becoming Sam Howell‘s third career trade destination (and second in 2025 alone), the Eagles are cutting Kyle McCord. The sixth-round rookie will be waived, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Added during the Round 6 run on QBs, McCord had been playing behind Tanner McKee during the preseason. But the Eagles have changed up at QB, cutting both McCord and trade pickup Dorian Thompson-Robinson. McCord could become a logical practice squad candidate, but with Howell arriving after a McKee injury, no active-roster spot existed.
McCord did not fare especially well in preseason games, completing just 42.9% of his passes for 191 yards. The former Syracuse and Ohio State passer threw one TD pass and two INTs. McCord cannot land on a practice squad until 11am CT Wednesday, when this extended waiver period wraps.
A Philadelphia-area native, McCord put up big stats during his season at Syracuse. As fellow sixth-round pick (by the Steelers) Will Howard replaced him with the Buckeyes last year, McCord put up big numbers with the Orange. Teaming with fellow Day 3 draftees Oronde Gadsden II and LeQuint Allen last season, McCord posted an ACC-record 4,779 passing yards, leading the NCAA, and set a Syracuse record with 34 TD passes.
McKee suffered a finger injury, and Howell’s arrival signals the expected Jalen Hurts backup might not be ready for Week 1. A McCord practice squad arrival and role as an emergency QB3 to open the season could be available. It will be interesting to see if the Eagles stash McKee on IR to start the year. He will otherwise be carried on the active roster as a player who might not be ready for a couple of weeks.
Buccaneers To Release LB Anthony Walker
Anthony Walker‘s brief time with the Buccaneers is coming to an end. The veteran linebacker is among Tampa Bay’s roster cuts, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Walker signed with the Bucs in March, seemingly setting him up for a spot with his latest team. The 30-year-old has 99 appearances and 83 starts to his name, but those totals will not increase with Tampa Bay. Walker was injured through all of training camp, Greg Auman of Fox Sports notes. This move takes the place of a reserve/NFI list designation as part of the Buccaneers’ roster moves.
Per Schefter, Walker is now healthy. That could prove to be a key factor in determining his future. The former Colts, Browns and Dolphins contributor has topped 100 tackles three time in his career, and last season he added 68 stops to his total while logging eight starts. While his first-team role in Miami was lost midway through the campaign, Walker could offer expected production at the second level of an interested team’s defense.
The practice squad represents an option in Walker’s case, depending on his Tampa Bay views his health status. Once his release is official, he will be free to sign elsewhere if no Bucs agreement is reached. This move will create $530K in cap space while generating a dead money charge of $668K.
Tampa Bay’s linebacking corps will once again be led by Lavonte David in 2025. With Walker out of the picture, fellow veteran Deion Jones remains on track to play at least a part-time role. Younger options on the depth chart are also now in a stronger position to survive the team’s remaining cuts.
Eagles To Waive G Kenyon Green
Kenyon Green saw the Texans give up on him, via his inclusion in the March C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, and is now set to see his first-round rookie contract hit waivers. The Eagles are set to cut the former first-round pick, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reports.
Competing for a guard spot on an Eagles team that lost 2024 RG starter Mekhi Becton in free agency, Green saw a potential opening emerge after Landon Dickerson‘s meniscus surgery. Matt Pryor is back with the team, while Brett Toth emerged as a more likely fill-in. The Athletic’s Zach Berman and Brooks Kubena note Green did not show enough in camp to make the 53-man roster.
Considering Green’s lack of production and the contract associated with his draft slot (No. 15), a last-ditch trade would seem unlikely in this case. The Eagles will take on $1.38MM in dead money if no one claims Green’s contract. Green will join the hundreds of non-vested veterans on waivers this week. No one in that contingent can be claimed until 11am CT Wednesday.
The Texans traded down three spots to land Green in 2022 but did not see much return on investment. The Texas A&M product struggled mightily as a rookie before missing all of the 2023 season due to a shoulder surgery (which came after two knee operations). Green won Houston’s left guard job to open last season but did not impress much in game action.
Pro Football Focus ranked Green as the worst guard regular in 2022 and second-worst in ’24. Another five-game absence ensued due to an in-season IR stay last season, and after nine starts to open the year, Green did not reacquire his Texans starting gig upon return.
Green could be a candidate to stick around on a practice squad deal, 94WIP.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks notes. While this would be a significant step down, Green is not losing money because of today’s cut. He is tied to a fully guaranteed rookie deal. A P-squad spot would allow the Eagles to continue developing the young blocker. If Green is unclaimed and also is not retained on a P-squad deal, it would represent a major step backward for a player who entered a draft as one of the top O-line prospects available.
Philly shuffled its backup O-line corps Sunday by trading Darian Kinnard to the Packers and reacquiring swing tackle Fred Johnson. Even with the Kinnard exit, Green did not factor into the Eagles’ roster plans. Tyler Steen is set to be the Eagles’ RG starter post-Becton.