Arguably the cruelest day on the NFL calendar awaits next Tuesday.
The league’s annual cutdown day will force all 32 teams to shear their rosters down to 53 players in advance on the regular season. While those configurations are hardly final – franchises will scour the waiver wires in an attempt to keep adding talent – the moves will certainly mark either a significant setback or the full end of the road for many of those who receive that unwanted call.
And while the majority of those who will be sent packing will be undrafted free agents and other unproven hopefuls, several players who once figured prominently into their respective teams’ plans could also be headed out.
With that in mind, here are nine notable players who could be on the chopping block in advance of next Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline:
QB Zach Wilson, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix is officially the starter. Jarrett Stidham at least appears to have the edge for the backup job. Where does that leave Wilson? Denver acquired him in March for merely a late-round pick swap, so there’s little buy-in regarding the No. 2 overall selection in 2021. But Sean Payton has talked up Wilson’s play, lauding not only his strong arm but decision-making and timing – two elements that proved plenty problematic throughout his time with the New York Jets. Keeping a third quarterback seems like a luxury for one of the league’s most lackluster collections of talent, so Wilson might need to leapfrog Stidham for the second-string role to ensure he sticks around.
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QB Bailey Zappe, New England Patriots
Zappe has been the lone holdover in what likely soon will be a fully overhauled Patriots quarterback room. Executive vice president Eliot Wolf brought in three passers this offseason: Jacoby Brissett as the veteran and potential bridge starter, Drake Maye as the big investment near the top of the draft and Joe Milton as the late-round developmental option. After starting eight games in the last two years, Zappe might spark some interest from a team looking to reshuffle its backup options. But after the 2022 fourth-round pick made his way back on to New England’s roster after being a surprise cut last August, don’t expect a similar return this time around.
WR Dee Eskridge, Seattle Seahawks
Between injuries and a six-game personal conduct suspension last season, Eskridge has seldom seen the field since the Seahawks selected him in the second round of the 2021 draft. Needing to prove himself to first-year coach Mike Macdonald and staff, the Western Michigan product still is struggling to make any substantive statement, missing all of last week due to injury. The 5-9, 190-pounder could still be an asset to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on jet sweeps, but Laviska Shenault Jr.’s recent rise both as a returner and an after-the-catch threat would seem to shut the door on Eskridge’s time in Seattle.
WRs Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs
The two-time defending champions sent a clear message this offseason that the status quo wouldn’t suffice for its underachieving receiving corps. With first-round pick Xavier Worthy in the fold and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown seemingly avoiding major injury – and no sign of a potential Rashee Rice suspension just yet – two players who once appeared to hold key roles for Patrick Mahomes and Co. could be headed out.
Toney’s fall from Super Bowl 57 standout to an untrustworthy target might end with him tumbling all the way off the roster next week. His 2023 season was defined by a series of high-profile errors, starting with his drops in the Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions and continuing with his offside penalty that wiped out a go-ahead touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. He finished the year inactive for the team’s final seven games, including Super Bowl 58. Toney’s sloppiness has extended into this preseason, with the receiver committing two penalties on his first exhibition snap last week. Andy Reid has been patient in affording Toney additional chances, but that could be coming to an end.
Moore, meanwhile, also failed to live up to lofty expectations last season after creating a buzz in training camp. The 2022 second-rounder still could carve out a role by working the middle of the field and serving as a reliable blocker. But with special teams coach Dave Toub recently advocating for receiver/returner Nikko Remigio, Moore might simply be too far back in the pecking order at receiver.
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WR Terrace Marshall Jr., Carolina Panthers
After averaging 17.5 yards per catch in 2022, Marshall looked poised for a potential breakout season last year. Then Carolina’s season cratered, and the 2021 second-round pick went nearly two months without a catch after his midseason trade request led nowhere. With the Panthers bringing on Diontae Johnson and first-round rookie Xavier Legette to join veteran Adam Thielen and second-year pass catcher Jonathan Mingo, Marshall has been left to claw for one of the final roster spots. While new coach Dave Canales has praised the LSU product for a strong summer showing, he still must beat out Ihmir Smith-Marsette – a fellow deep threat who also adds value as a potential returner – and David Moore – a steadier option who has played under Canales in previous stops with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
OT Jackson Carman, Cincinnati Bengals
In a league where demand for capable offensive linemen always outstrips supply, a former second-round pick with the versatility to play tackle or guard shouldn’t be sweating whether he makes a 53-man roster. Carman, however, appears to be on shaky ground, even on a team that still is facing injury-related uncertainty up front after being repeatedly undone in recent years by inconsistency along the line. The 6-5, 322-pounder started six games as a rookie but has played in just six contests in the last two seasons. His summer performance appears to have only further damaged his case, as Carman committed four penalties in the Bengals’ preseason opener. His fourth-quarter entrance in the second exhibition matchup likely signaled his forthcoming exit.
DE/LB Jamin Davis, Washington Commanders
Is Davis turning the corner in, well, learning how to turn the corner? A 2021 first-round pick as a linebacker, the Kentucky product is now trying to hang on to his spot in Washington as an edge rusher. Though he’s still plenty raw, the 6-4, 234-pounder has been working with four-time Pro Bowler and assistant linebackers coach Ryan Kerrigan to hone his pass-rushing skills. His promise was evident in last week’s preseason contest against the Miami Dolphins, when he beat second-round rookie offensive tackle Patrick Paul for a strip-sack. With the Commanders already having declined Davis’ fifth-year option, the draft capital that the previous regime spent on him means little to his current odds of staying on. But the talent and athleticism that helped him earn that status could prove meaningful in a late push to remain.
S Lewis Cine, Minnesota Vikings
With second-round cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. discarded in a trade earlier in August and fellow Day 2 picks Ed Ingram and Brian Asamoah yet to pay off, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first draft class has been a sore spot for Minnesota. But undoubtedly the biggest disappointment from that 2022 group is Cine, the last pick of the first round. The former Georgia standout had his rookie campaign cut short by a fractured leg and has logged just 10 defensive snaps in two seasons. Now, he’s buried on the depth chart, figuring to be no better than the sixth option at his position. While he recorded 11 tackles, an interception and a sack in last week’s contest against the Cleveland Browns, that performance might prove most valuable to Cine in potentially helping catch the eye of another team.
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