For nearly half the players on NFL preseason rosters, August 29 will be an awful, terrible, very bad no good day.
That’s the deadline for all 32 franchises to trim their lineups from the offseason limit of 90 down to the regular season maximum of 53. For some players, it will mark the end of their NFL careers. Others will be snatched up on waivers — setting off a secondary round of tough cuts — or added to practice squads. Either way, Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline will alter the lives of rookies and veterans across the league.
Many of the players to be called into uncomfortable meetings will be undrafted rookies or low wattage depth options. But others will be recognizable names; former starters and Pro Bowlers hitting either a nadir in their careers or wrapping them up altogether. This won’t be an exhaustive list of the players forced to look for new jobs August 29; instead, it’s a greatest hits recounting of the most notable players to be cast aside as teams sort out what they hope is a championship roster.
So who are the biggest names to be released before the start of the 2023 NFL season?
1
James Robinson, RB, New York Giants
This is the second time the former 1,000-yard rusher has been released this summer; the Patriots waived him back in June. Robinson was a revelation as an undrafted rookie in 2020 when he claimed the Jacksonville Jaguars’ starting job and probably ran for 1,070 yards. His 2021 was cut short by an Achilles injury from which he has yet to fully recover; he averaged only 2.9 yards per carry after being traded to the New York Jets last season.
2
P.J. Walker, QB, Chicago Bears
Walker parlayed a brilliant run through the XFL to earn a place on former college head coach Matt Rhule’s Carolina Panthers. While he went 4-3 as a starter over three seasons he also threw just five touchdowns against 11 interceptions. The Bears decided he wasn’t a better option behind Justin Fields than undrafted rookie (and Division II lightning bolt) Tyson Bagent or, gulp, Nathan Peterman and released him ahead of cutdown day.
3
Kendall Hinton, WR, Denver Broncos
Hinton is listed as a wide receiver, but you may remember him best for his 2020 start at quarterback for a Broncos roster racked by COVID-19. He completed one of nine passes that day — a 31-3 loss — and reverted back to wideout. The former Wake Forest QB had 39 receptions the last two seasons in Denver.
4
Shane Ray, EDGE, Buffalo Bills
Ray hadn’t played in the NFL since 2018 before attempting a comeback this spring in Buffalo. The former first round pick showed flashes of his old ability, but ultimately suffered a hamstring injury and was released in the leadup to cutdown day.
5
Alex Leatherwood, OL, Chicago Bears
Leatherwood was one of Jon Gruden’s many cursed first round picks as Raiders head coach. He lasted just one season in Las Vegas before being waived in 2022. That led to four games with the Bears last fall, but his time in Chicago may be done for after the Alabama product couldn’t find a spot on the Bears’ (formerly?) deficient offensive line.
6
Kenyan Drake, RB, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts need insurance thanks to Jonathan Taylor’s contract impasse. Drake won’t be the one to provide it, as the former Cardinals RB1 was released Sunday. Despite averaging 4.4 yards per carry last season in Baltimore, his yards after contact has declined every season since 2018.
7
Christian Kirksey, LB, Houston Texans
The veteran defensive captain was an expensive piece of a crowded linebacker rotation. Despite a typically sound 2022 season, Houston decided the soon-to-be 31-year-old didn’t have a place in the franchise’s latest rebuild. He’ll have his share of interest as a free agent, though he may not be in a rush to sign this offseason as he searches for a contender after a career filled with losing records.
8
Colt McCoy, QB, Arizona Cardinals
McCoy isn’t a huge name per se, but his release means the Cardinals will turn to either Joshua Dobbs or rookie Clayton Tune as their starting quarterback while Kyler Murray rehabs his torn ACL. That is … phew. Well, it’s not like this team was built to contend in 2023 in the first place.
9
Jamison Crowder, WR, New York Giants
Crowder was once a reliable slot target, but he only managed six catches in four games with the receiver-needy Buffalo Bills in a 2022 season cut short by injury. His comeback with the slot-stocked Giants ended Tuesday.
10
Bradley Roby, CB, New Orleans Saints
The former first round pick started 10 games for the Saints in 2022 and was effective, allowing only a 79.4 passer rating in coverage. Releasing him saves nearly $7 million in salary cap space over this season and the next.
11
Jaylon Smith, LB, New Orleans Saints
The former Pro Bowler started 10 games for the Giants in 2022. Unfortunately he couldn’t crack a crowded linebacker rotation in New Orleans and is headed back to free agency.
12
Melvin Gordon, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Gordon was a bit of a long shot to make the roster in Baltimore thanks to a deep cast of tailbacks. The Ravens are hoping he’ll slide through to the practice squad as a much needed insurance policy should injury run unabated through their depth chart once more.
