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NFL Nation, ESPN
The 2023 NFL season will kick off next week as the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions on Thursday, Sept. 7 (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), which means teams are cutting their rosters in preparation.
Teams were required to finalize their 53-man rosters by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. With the preseason already in the books, teams began making their 2023 roster cuts over the weekend.
Several notable cuts happened Monday, when the Arizona Cardinals cut veteran quarterback Colt McCoy, despite keeping Kyler Murray on the physically unable to perform list. The Houston Texans also parted ways with a veteran as they cut captain Christian Kirksey.
There have also been multiple trades this week — including the deal that sent quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday night — as teams look to make room or bolster their roster. Follow along on our preseason trade tracker for those moves.
We tracked the biggest moves across the league and compiled each roster cut here:
More coverage:
Trade tracker | Depth charts
Biggest move: After Cade York struggled throughout preseason, the Browns made a move at kicker, trading for Dustin Hopkins in a deal with the Chargers before waiving York. It was a stunning fall for York, who was a fourth-round pick of the Browns just last year. York, however, missed three potential game-winning field goal attempts in Cleveland’s final two preseason games, effectively sealing his fate after a rocky rookie year. — Jake Trotter
Traded: OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr., QB Joshua Dobbs
Waived/released: CB Caleb Biggers, LB Cam Bright, TE Miller Forristall, TE Thomas Greaney, CB Gavin Heslop, OT Derrick Kelly II, S Nate Meadors, WR Anthony Schwartz (injury WR Jalen Wayne, G Colby Gossett, RB Jordan Wilkins, G Wes Martin, CB Lorenzo Burns, WR Jaelon Darden, RB/WR Demetric Felton Jr., RB Hassan Hall, WR Mike Harley Jr., DE Sam Kamara, DE Jeremiah Martin, S Tanner McCalister, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, QB Kellen Mond, DE Lonnie Phelps, LB Charlie Thomas III, DE Isaiah Thomas, DT Tommy Togiai, WR Austin Watkins Jr., K Cade York, G Michael Dunn, DT Trysten Hill, DT Maurice Hurst II, RB John Kelly Jr.
Reserve/injured: WR Jakeem Grant Sr., G Drew Forbes, WR Michael Woods II
Biggest move: The Commanders did not have any big surprises, but they did keep 11 defensive linemen — one more than anticipated at the start of training camp. It also meant keeping four linebackers — but that position also was impacted by having secondary depth and multiple players who can fill a hybrid safety/linebacker role. Keeping 11 linemen means they have seven defensive ends, including rookies KJ Henry (fifth round) and Andre Jones Jr. (seventh round). With their top five defensive ends all entering the last year of their contract, Washington needs younger and cheaper depth. They did cut two players who likely will be re-signed in fullback/tight end Alex Armah and center Tyler Larsen. — John Keim
Waived/released: WR/R Kazmeir Allen, OL Tyler Larsen, DE Will Bradley-King, OL Alex Akingbulu, DT Abdullah Anderson, TE/FB Alex Armah, T Jaryd Jones-Smith, G Nolan Laufenberg, DT Benning Potoa’e, S Kendall Smith, WR Brycen Tremayne, CB Jace Whittaker, S Terrell Burgess, RB Derrick Gore, CB Rachad Wildgoose, QB Jake Fromm, OL Mason Brooks, CB Nick Whiteside II, LB De’Jon Harris, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, WR Zion Bowens, LB Milo Eifler, CB DaMarcus Fields, LB Ferrod Gardner, S Joshua Kalu, WR Marcus Kemp, DT Isaiah Mack, DT Anthony Montalvo, T/G Aaron Monteiro, RB Jaret Patterson, DE Joshua Pryor, CB DJ Stirgus
Reserve/suspended: OT Braeden Daniels, RB Jonathan Williams, WR Kyric McGowan, TE Brandon Dillon, TE Kaden Smith
Biggest move: In a training camp with few roster spots to be determined and even fewer position battles, it’s a kicker that created the biggest roster move. The Chargers traded veteran Dustin Hopkins to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick. Hopkins’ season ended in Week 6 of 2022 after he converted four field goals, including a game winner in overtime, despite suffering a hamstring injury early in the game. In Week 9, the Bolts onboarded rookie Cameron Dicker who has proven efficient if not outstanding. He retains the job into his second NFL season and comes at a fraction of Hopkins’ salary. — Lindsey Thiry
Traded: K Dustin Hopkins
Waived/released: OLB Brevin Allen, OT Zack Bailey, S Tyler Baker-Williams, C Johari Branch, CB Cam Brown, WR Terrell Bynum, DL Jerrod Clark, LB Tae Crowder, WR Keelan Doss, QB Max Duggan, LB Nathan East, TE Michael Ezeike, OLB Andrew Farmer, CB Matt Hankins, WR John Hightower, RB Tyler Hoosman, CB Michael Jacquet, LB Mikel Jones, TE Hunter Kampmoyer, OT Matt Kaskey, OLB Carlo Kemp, DL Terrance Lang, LB Blake Lynch, DL David Moa, CB Tiawan Mullen, DL CJ Okoye, OG Austen Pleasants, RB Aaron Shampklin, OLB Ty Shelby, WR Darrius Shepherd, CB Amechi Uzodinma, C Isaac Weaver, DB Mark Webb Jr., WR Pokey Wilson, WR Milton Wright
Reserve/Physically unable to perform: DL Otito Ogbonnia, WR Jalen Guyton
Biggest move: The Falcons’ most intriguing move might have been at tight end, where they kept John FitzPatrick over Parker Hesse, who was a stalwart as a blocking tight end last year. Add in waiving defensive tackle Timmy Horne — who started five games last year — it proved coach Arthur Smith’s statement of having a hard 53-man roster to make to be true. — Michael Rothstein
Waived/released: FB Clint Ratkovich, RB Godwin Igwebuike, RB Carlos Washington Jr., WR Keilahn Harris, WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR Zay Malone, WR Slade Bolden, WR Mathew Sexton, TE Parker Hesse, TE Tucker Fisk, OL Jalen Mayfield, OL Jonotthan Harrison, OL Michal Menet, OL Barry Wesley, OL Trevor Reid, OL Tyler Vrabel, OL Justin Shaffer, DL Delontae Scott, DL LaCale London, DL Justin Ellis, DT Carlos Davis, DL Caeveon Patton, DL Timmy Horne, DL Demone Harris, LB Frank Ginda, LB Andre Smith, LB Kemoko Turay, LB Mike Jones Jr., CB Darren Hall, CB Bless Austin, CB Breon Borders, CB Natrone Brooks, S Lukas Denis, S Micah Abernathy, S Cliff Chattman
Reserve/injured: WR Penny Hart, CB Cornell Armstrong
Biggest move: The Jaguars surprisingly kept seven receivers. In addition to Tim Jones they kept undrafted rookie free agent Elijah Cooks to go along with Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Jamal Agnew and sixth-round pick Parker Washington. Teams generally have only five receivers active on game day and the fifth one is usually a special teams player. That’s a role Jones held last season and is likely to continue. The team liked what they saw from the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Cooks — who caught seven passes for 146 yards in three preseason games — and didn’t want to risk losing him. — Michael DiRocco
Waived/released: LS Tucker Addington, WR Kevin Austin Jr., S Latavious Brini, OLB DJ Coleman, RB Snoop Conner, OL Coy Cronk, DL DeShaun Dixon, CB Erick Hallett II, OL Blake Hance, WR Jacob Harris, CB Kaleb Hayes, LB Dequan Jackson, OL Samuel Jackson, WR Oliver Martin, K James McCourt, S Ayo Oyelola, TE Derek Parish, TE Josh Pederson, TE Gerrit Prince, WR Kendric Pryor, QB Nathan Rourke, OLB Jordan Smith, OLB Willie Taylor III, DL Raymond Vohasek, OL Darryl Williams, WR Seth Williams, CB Divaad Wilson
Waived/injured: WR Jaray Jenkins
Released: OL Chandler Brewer, CB Tevaughn Campbell, DL Michael Dogbe, OL Bobby Evans, RB Qadree Ollison
Reserve/injured: LB Ventrell Miller, OL Josh Wells
Reserve/suspended: LT Cam Robinson
Exempt/Commissioner Permission list: CB Chris Claybrooks
Biggest move:Putting Jourdan Lewis on the active roster is a sign the veteran cornerback is close to contributing after suffering a severe foot injury in the middle of last season. Lewis had been on the physically unable to perform list through training camp but has picked up his work in recent weeks. If they kept him on PUP, he would have missed the first four games and, maybe more importantly, not been able to practice. While he might not be ready for the opener or even Week 2 or 3, he can practice with the team with a ramp-up period to test his foot and return to a role in the slot. Without that, he may have missed the first six games. Aside from maybe tight end Sean McKeon, there really was no surprise among the cuts, but the Cowboys will re-sign long-snapper Trent Sieg, special teams ace C.J. Goodwin and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga perhaps as soon as Wednesday after putting two players on injured reserve/designated to return. — Todd Archer
Traded: CB Kelvin Joseph
Acquired: CB Noah Igbinoghene
Waived/released: DT Isaac Alarcon, DE Ban Banogu, WR Jose Barbon, DT Quinton Bohanna, OL Earl Bostick, CB Myles Brooks, CB Josh Butler, LB Jabril Cox, S Tyler Coyle, RB Malik Davis, WR Dontario Drummond, OL Chuma Edoga, TE Princeton Fant, OL Matt Farniok, WR Simi Fehoko, CB C.J. Goodwin, TE Seth Green, QB Will Grier, OL Brock Hoffman, WR Dennis Houston, LB Malik Jefferson, DE Durrell Johnson, WR Tyron Johnson, LB Isaiah Land, OL Alec Lindstrom, CB D’Angelo Mandell, TE Sean McKeon, WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper, DB Sheldrick Redwine, LS Trent Sieg, OL Alex Taylor-Prioleau, DL Tyrus Wheat
Reserve/suspended: RB Ronald Jones
Reserve/injured: OL Josh Ball, WR David Durden, LB DeMarvion Overshown, TE John Stephens Jr.
Biggest move: After being on the practice squad the past two years, QB Jake Browning has won the back-up quarterback job. Browning beat out veteran Trevor Siemian, who signed a 1-year deal this offseason but struggled throughout the preseason. In three exhibition games, he completed 71.1% of his passes for 316 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Cincinnati is still awaiting the return of starter Joe Burrow, who is recovering from a strained right calf. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he feels “really good” about Browning as Cincinnati’s primary backup for the 2023 season. — Ben Baby
Waived/released: TE Tanner Hudson, CB Sidney Jones IV, WR Stanley Morgan, QB Trevor Siemian, WR Trent Taylor, S Michael J. Thomas, OT Hakeem Adeniji, TE Devin Asiasi, TE Nick Bowers, S Larry Brooks, G Ben Brown, DE Owen Carney, WR Malachi Carter, P Drue Chrisman, S Yusuf Corker, DT Domenique Davis, CB Allan George, C Nate Gilliam, DE Jeff Gunter, LB Shaka Heyward, WR Mac Hippenhammer, WR Shedrick Jackson, DE Raymond Johnson III, LB Keandre Jones, G Jaxson Kirkland, WR Kwamie Lassiter II, LB Jaylen Moody
Reserve/injured: DT Tautala Pesefea Jr., CB Marvell Tell
Biggest move: Steelers general manager Omar Khan shipped offensive linemen Kevin Dotson to the Los Angeles Rams and Kendrick Green to the Houston Texans, turning a superfluous depth piece and a cut candidate into future draft capital. The Steelers swapped picks with Rams to get a 2024 fourth rounder and a 2025 fifth rounder. And for Green, the Steelers gained a 2025 sixth-round pick. Because of Khan’s emphasis on revamping the offensive line group in the last two seasons with additions including G Isaac Seumalo, OT Broderick Jones, OL Nate Herbig, C Mason Cole and G James Daniels, Dotson and Green weren’t in line for much, if any, playing time in 2023, further speaking to the quality positional depth built by the organization. — Brooke Pryor
Traded: OL Kevin Dotson, OL Kendrick Green
Waived/released: CB Luq Barcoo, CB Chris Wilcox, DL Breiden Fehoko, DL Jonathan Marshall, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, LB David Perales, LB Quincy Roche, OL Ryan McCollum, RB Greg Bell, RB Xazavian Valladay, S Trenton Thompson, S Tre Norwood, TE Zach Gentry, TE Rodney Williams, WR Jordan Byrd, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, CB, Lavert Hill, DL Manny Jones, LB Tanner Muse, LB Toby Ndukwe, OL Le’Raven Clark, OL William Dunkle, QB Tanner Morgan, RB Darius Hagans, S Jalen Elliott, S Kenny Robinson, WR Aron Cruickshank, CB Madre Harper, DB Nevelle Clarke, DL James Nyamwaya, K B.T. Potter, LB Kuony Deng, LB Forrest Rhyne, LS Rex Sunahara, WR Dan Chisena
Biggest move: The decision to release Pro Bowl inside linebacker Deion Jones less than a month after signing him to a one-year deal was the biggest surprise, but the decision to keep five tight ends was the most significant. Coach Frank Reich has said repeatedly he loves his tight end room, and history shows tight ends play a big role in his offense. But to keep five — Hayden Hurst, Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Giovanni Ricci and Stephen Sullivan — says Reich wasn’t blowing smoke about the room and the contributions he expects them to make. — David Newton
Traded: Swapped conditional seventh-round pick in 2025 to the Kansas City Chiefs for WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
Waived/released: OT Cameron Erving, CB Greg Mabin, DT Taylor Stallworth, WR Shi Smith, WR Josh Vann, OL Justin McCray, OL Sam Tecklenburg, DL Raequan Williams, LB Brandon Smith, LB Deion Jones, LB Jordan Thomas, LB Ace Eley, S Eric Rowe, CB Keith Taylor Jr., DB Herb Miller, CB Mac McCain III, RB Spencer Brown, CB Mark Milton, OL JD DiRenzo, WR Javin Wims, DE Eku Leota, CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, OL Deonte Brown, OL Michael Jordan, DE Kobe Jones, QB Jake Luton, RB Camerun Peoples, WR Gary Jennings, WR C.J. Saunders, OT Larnel Coleman, DL Antwuan Jackson, LB Bumper Pool, S Collin Duncan, S Josh Thomas, CB Rejzohn Wright, K Matthew Wright.
Reserve/suspended: OG Austin Corbett placed on reserve/PUP list; DE Henry Anderson on IR
Biggest move: Can a move they didn’t make qualify here? After a week of speculation, the Dolphins did not end up trading for Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, opting to keep their faith in Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Jr., and De’Von Achane. Miami also traded former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene, cutting ties with the cornerback after he played in 32 games in three seasons. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Traded: OL Dan Feeney, CB Noah Igbinoghene
Waived/released: OT Geron Christian, WR Keke Coutee and LB A.J. Johnson. LB Mitchell Agude, QB James Blackman, DT Josiah Bronson, DE Randy Charlton, WR Chris Coleman, LB Aubrey Miller II, LB Garrett Nelson, S Keidron Smith, OT James Tunstall, DT Jaylen Twyman, DT Jamal Woods, CB Justin Bethel, WR Robbie Chosen, RB Myles Gaskin, DT Da’Shawn Hand, TE Tyler Kroft, CB Parry Nickerson, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, DB Jamal Perry, LB Malik Reed, CB Ethan Bonner, TE Tanner Conner, LB Cameron Goode, OT Ryan Hayes, TE Elijah Higgins, WR Braylon Sanders, CB Bryce Thompson, OL Alama Uluave, WR Daewood Davis and CB Trill Williams
Reserve/suspended: CB Nik Needham, TE Eric Saubert, CB Keion Crossen
Biggest move: The official average ages of team rosters won’t be set until the NFL sees who’s actually on the 53s for Week 1, but we don’t need to wait to know that the Packers will be one of the youngest. By releasing punter Pat O’Donnell, who, at age 32, had been the oldest player on the team, earlier this week, the Packers now have only three players whose ages start with the number the 3 – David Bakhtiari (31), Preston Smith (30) and De’Vondre CampbellDe’Vondre Campbell (30). By comparison, last season, the Packers had eight players 30 or older, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers and tight end Marcedes Lewis (both now 39) plus kicker Mason Crosby (now 38). The initial roster included 11 of the 13 picks from this year’s draft and three undrafted rookies. There will be more moves to come on Wednesday, given that they don’t have a long-snapper on the roster. They plan to re-sign Matt Orzech but needed a spot for someone (perhaps offensive lineman Luke Tenuta or receiver Dontayvion Wicks) to carry for a day and then place on injured reserve with the ability to turn. — Rob Demovsky
Waived/released: TE Austin Allen, CB Corey Ballentine, LB Keshawn Banks, WR Jadakis Bonds , WR Cody Chrest, T Jean Delance, WR Grant DuBose, C James Empey, CB Tyrell Ford, S Innis Gaines, CB Elijah Hamilton, CB William Hooper, CB Shemar Jean-Charles, DL Jason Lewan, RB Nate McCrary, QB Alex McGough, WR Bo Melton, WR Dre Miller, LB Arron Mosby, DL Antonio Moultrie, LB Kenneth Odumegwu, LS Matt Orzech, FB Henry Pearson, LB Jimmy Phillips Jr., LB Marvin Pierre, S Benny Sapp III, C Cole Schneider, DL Chris Slayton, RB Patrick Taylor, T Kadeem Telfort, CB Kiondre Thomas, WR Duece Watts
Waived/injured: RB Tyler Goodson, LS Broughton Hatcher, RB Lew Nichols
Injured reserve: S Tarvarius Moore
Physically unable to perform: CB Eric Stokes