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Drew Bledsoe spoke with Mackenzie Salmon about all things Patriots including the QB battle between Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett.
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Decision day has officially arrived in the NFL.
By 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, all 32 teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players. The cutdown deadline will surely prove painful for many throughout the league, as long-shot rookies and established veterans could be dealt significant setbacks as they try to keep pushing for their football futures. But for others, the day might serve as the realization of a dream if they are included on an initial active roster.
A handful of franchises already began releasing or waiving players on Monday, with some making a dozen or more moves. USA TODAY Sports will have live news and updates on all the roster moves throughout Tuesday, so check back often for all the latest:
Anders Carlson, a second-year player out of Auburn had a shaky rookie season and appears to have lost out on the battle with veteran Greg Joseph. Carlson, who missed a 32-yard field goal attempt in the last kick of the preseason, made 27 of 33 field goal attempts and 34 of 39 extra point attempts last season. ESPN was the first to report Carlson’s release.
USA TODAY Sports took a look last week at several key figures on the chopping block. The latest names that could be headed elsewhere include:
Kadarius Toney, WR, Chiefs: His chances to stick with the two-time defending champs already looked iffy, and that was before Kansas City brought back JuJu Smith-Schuster on Monday.
Tim Patrick, WR, Broncos: A trade could be in order for a receiver-needy team, but Denver doesn’t plan to move forward with Patrick, per multiple reports, after he suffered two season-ending injuries in the last two summers.
Samaje Perine, RB, Broncos: Another possible player who could be dealt by Denver, Perine averaged 4.5 yards per carry and had 50 catches last season.
Jackson Carman, OT, Bengals: The 2021 second-round pick wasn’t able to stick as a backup after a shaky camp and preseason.
Mike White, QB, Dolphins: After apparently losing out to Skylar Thompson in the battle to be Tua Tagovailoa’s backup, White will now try to latch on with another team as a potential No. 2.
Matt Breida, RB, 49ers: Though he rushed for 1,902 yards in three years in his first go-around with the team, Breida’s second stint in the Bay Area was cut short after less than a month.
One trade of a triggerman has already happened since the preseason’s completion, the Tennessee Titans shipping Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers on Monday. Willis leaves a logjam in Nashville and gets a fresh start and opportunity to be Jordan Love’s primary backup with the Pack.
Don’t be surprised to see similar moves Tuesday given the premium on quarterbacks but likelihood many clubs won’t carry more than two on their 53-man rosters. Veterans like the Atlanta Falcons’ Taylor Heinicke or Denver Broncos’ Zach Wilson are the kind of players who might fit the trade bill – veterans with experience but on expiring contracts and no concrete claim on the QB2 role in their current situations.
Releasing, waiving or trading players aren’t the only means to winnow a roster down to 53 players. Quite a few others, many of them stars, will be retained in other categories that will (at least temporarily) exempt them from the 53-man roster. Here are some name players who won’t begin the year on active rosters:
PUP list: Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne (ACL), Dolphins OLB Bradley Chubb (ACL), Browns RB Nick Chubb (knee), Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson (knee), Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell (knee), Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu (ACL), Dolphins OL Isaiah Wynn (quadriceps).
NFI list: Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (knee).
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All rosters must be at 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
NFL teams have until noon ET on Wednesday, Aug. 28, to claim players who are waived as part of league-wide roster reductions. Once those claims are resolved, clubs will begin filling out their practice squads.
Expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, teams are now allowed to carry up to 16 players on the practice squad, which supplements the 53-man roster. Up to 10 players with two or fewer accrued seasons can join a given practice squad while a maximum of six more with an unlimited amount of NFL service are also eligible for spots.
A 17th international player can be added if he meets certain eligibility requirements.
