We’re just over two weeks away from the start of the 2026 NFL season, when the Seahawks and Patriots meet in a Super Bowl rematch on Sept. 9. And with the preseason play wrapped up, front offices and coaching staffs have been busy around the league getting the roster ready to go.
The deadline for each team to finalize their 53-man roster was Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Teams can still make moves, of course, before the opener, but getting down to 53 players by the deadline meant a lot of cuts and trades. Of note, the Cowboys released second-year running back Jaydon Blue while the Colts retained quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.
Our NFL Nation reporters have the official releases and other moves for all 32 teams as news trickles out. Plus, they broke down the biggest moves to know.
Jump to a team:
ATL | CIN | CLE | DAL
IND | MIA | MIN | WSH
AFC East
Biggest move: Trading away Quinn Ewers and trading for Kyle McCord. The Dolphins’ backup quarterback situation was untenable after a cumulatively underwhelming preseason from Cam Miller, Mark Gronowski and Ewers. Swapping Ewers for McCord is still risky; McCord is yet to play an NFL game while Ewers has three starts under his belt. But McCord was one of the top performers of the preseason and is young enough to qualify as a developmental passer for a young Miami team. On the other side of the ball, the Dolphins released linebacker Tyrel Dodson, clearing a starting job for second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Traded: QB Quinn Ewers, WR Tutu Atwell
Waived/released: LB Tyrel Dodson, DE Cameron Goode, WR Terrace Marshall Jr., OT Charlie Heck, S Lonnie Johnson Jr., DE David Ojabo, WR Jalen Reagor, CB Marco Wilson, DL Matthew Butler, OT Gottlieb Ayedze, CB Miles Battle, RB Jarquez Hunter, WR Donaven McCulley, DE Rodney McGraw, CB Jai’Onte’ McMillan, QB Cam Miller, QB Mark Gronowski, S Major Burns, TE Jeremiah Franklin, RB Carlos Washington Jr., DL Fatorma Mulbah, LB Cam Riley
Reserve/suspended: DT Kenneth Grant, LB Trey Moore, CB Darrell Baker Jr., CB Storm Duck
AFC North
Biggest move: Cincinnati opted to shake up its receiving room. Former one-time CFL reserve Dohnte Meyers beat out Mitchell Tinsley, last year’s offseason star, for a spot on the initial 53-player roster. But that wasn’t the only main move. Ke’Shawn Williams kept a spot as well and is in line to replace Charlie Jones as the team’s primary returner. Jones, a fourth-round pick in 2023, was dynamic on special teams but struggled to find a role on offense. Jones had a return touchdown in each of the last three seasons (one on a punt, two on kickoffs). — Ben Baby
Waived/released: HB Gary Brightwell, LB Joe Giles-Harris, QB Josh Johnson, S Russ Yeast, LB Liam Anderson, S Daijahn Anthony, G Liam Brown, RB Kentrel Bullock, QB Sean Clifford, OT Andrew Coker, DT Howard Cross III, LB Jack Dingle, DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Eric Gentry, TE Cam Grandy, RB Jamal Haynes, LB Shaka Heyward, DT McKinnley Jackson, WR Xavier Johnson, WR Charlie Jones, OT Christian Jones, TE Josh Kattus, CB Jalen Kimber, CB Bralyn Lux, CB Matthew McDoom, RB Kendall Milton, WR Jordan Moore, DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, WR Kendric Pryor, OL Corey Robinson II, WR Noah Thomas, WR Mitchell Tinsley, CB Ceyair Wright
Reserve/injured: CB Ja’Sir Taylor, OL Brian Parker II
Biggest move: The Browns trimmed their roster from four quarterbacks to three ahead of the NFL’s 6 p.m. ET Sunday deadline, but did so without cutting or trading a passer.
Instead, Cleveland placed Dillon Gabriel on injured reserve and designated him to return with a back injury.
Gabriel injured his back in Cleveland’s preseason-closing win against the Patriots on Thursday night, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Gabriel will miss at least the first four games of the season, but the designation could also possibly give the Browns more time to find a trade partner. — Daniel Oyefusi — Daniel Oyefusi
Waived/released: CB Tre Avery, DT Travis Bell, TE Drew Biber, RB Davon Booth, CB Myles Bryant, OT Jeremiah Byers, DT Elijah Chatman, P Nik Constantinou, S Christopher Edmonds, G Kingsley Eguakun, CB Nate Evans, DE Logan Fano, WR Luke Floriea, CB Tyler Hall, DT Coziah Izzard, DT Patrick Jenkins, WR Gage Larvadain, DT Sam Kamara, OT KT Leveston, RB Ahmani Marshall, CB Jeremiah McClendon, OT Izavion Miller, DE Jamil Muhammad, WR Ben Patterson, P Wes Pahl, OT Tyre Phillips, CB D’Angelo Ross, DT Tyreak Sapp, DE Khordae Sydnor, TE Jermaine Terry II, WR Cedric Tillman, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, S Zion Washington, LB Nathaniel Watson, DE Benton Whitley, WR Kole Wilson
Reserve/injured : QB Dillon Gabriel
Reserve/NFI : TE Joe Royer
AFC South
Biggest move: It won’t make huge headlines, but the Colts flipping late-round picks with Buffalo to acquire center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger filled a very obvious hole in the Indianapolis offense. While the Colts are quite happy with starting center Tanor Bortolini, they endured constant issues through training camp and the preseason with errant snaps from the candidates to be backup center. During Saturday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions alone there were at least five poor snaps to quarterbacks Anthony Richardson Sr. and Riley Leonard. Sunday’s trade gives the Colts peace of mind in the event Bortolini misses a game. — Stephen Holder
Waived/released: Waived/released: DT Cameron Ball, RB Ulysses Bentley IV, S Austin Brown, TE Pharaoh Brown, CB Rob Carter Jr., RB Anderson Castle, T Blake Freeland, TE JJ Galbreath, WR Anthony Gould, K Blake Grupe, WR Sahmir Hagans, CB Kenneth Harris, C Josh Kreutz, T Roy Mbaeteka, DE Mitchell Melton, TE Tyler Moore, C Jimmy Morrissey, DT Derrick Nnadi, DE Durell Nchami, WR Ben Nikkel, WR Eli Pancol, CB Mekhi Rodgers, T Nolan Rucci, S Daniel Scott, WR Raylen Sharpe, G Josh Sills, QB Easton Stick, S Juanyeh Thomas, C Geno VanDeMark, LB Devin Veresuk, S Trey Washington, T Trey Wedig, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, DT Colby Wooden.
Reserve/suspended: CB Cam Taylor-Britt (transaction pending)
NFC East
Biggest move: Based on the start of training camp, it would be waiving running back Jaydon Blue, a fifth-round pick in 2025. After a disappointing rookie season — he was inactive for 12 games — Blue was credited with a more mature approach to the game by the coaches. But once training camp started, he was outplayed by Malik Davis. Blue’s speed offered a different skill set than the rest of the position group, but the best he can do for the Cowboys at the moment is end up on the practice squad. Davis had two 100-yard games last year after he earned the job as Javonte Williams‘ backup, and he can be a core special teamer. The Cowboys have just two tailbacks, plus fullback Hunter Luepke, on the 53-man roster at the moment, but can add a third on gameday, if they choose, with a practice-squad call up. — Todd Archer
Traded: OT Nate Thomas (Houston)
Waived/released: RB Jaydon Blue, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR Tyler Johnson, WR Jordan Hudson, RB Jashaun Corbin, TE Michael Trigg, TE Zack Kuntz, TE DJ Rogers (injured), T Sebastian Gutierrez, G DJ Wingfield, G Chris Glaser, G Shiyazh Pete, TE Mitch Van Vooren, CB Trikweze Bridges, CB Josh Butler, LB Curtis Robinson, LB Langston Patterson, CB Zion Childress, WR Denzel Mims, WR Jaden Smith, OLB Isaiah Land, DT D.J. Withers, DT Jay Toia, DT Tommy Dunn Jr., DT Adedayo Odeleye, T Marcellus Johnson, RB Phil Mafah, DB Reddy Steward, OL Trevor Keegan, RB Israel Abanikanda, WR Anthony Smith, OLB Sam Williams, CB Derion Kendrick, C Nick Leverett, S Julius Wood, LB Justin Barron
Injured reserve/designated to return: LB Marist Liufau (forearm); CB Devin Moore (hip)
Biggest move: The Commanders placed corner Trey Amos on injured reserve with a designation to return because of an ankle injury he suffered in training camp on Aug. 8 — on the first day he practiced. It was uncertain when Amos would return from the ankle injury, but this guarantees he’ll miss at least the first four games. Washington will re-sign Fabian Moreau, who was cut Sunday, after placing left tackle Laremy Tunsil on injured reserve. It’s not an ideal corner istuation for Washington, which will face receivers such as DeVonta Smith, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first three weeks. — John Keim
Waived/released: LB Krys Barnes, OLB Boogie Basham, S Joshuah Bledsoe, WR Jaden Bradley, G/T Daniel Brunskill, TE Lawrence Cager, DT Byron Cowart, CB Fred Davis II, C/G Julian Good-Jones, CB Antonio Hamilton Sr., QB Sam Hartman, RB Robert Henry Jr., C Trey Hill, DT Maurice Hurst II, LB Curtis Jacobs, WR Van Jefferson, OLB DJ Johnson, S Quindell Johnson, WR Jacoby Jones, LB Ale Kaho, S Qwuantrezz Knight, DT Jeffrey M’ba, OLB T.J. Maguranyanga, TE Tre’ McKitty, TE
NFC North
Biggest move: The Vikings chose rookie punter Brett Thorson over veteran Johnny Hekker in the competition to replace Ryan Wright, who signed with the Saints this spring. Thorson had an excellent college career at Georgia, capped by the 2025 Ray Guy Award as the nation’s best amateur punter, and was impressive in training camp. But the risk here is that he never served as a holder at Georgia, and in Minnesota he had to prove he could do it without disrupting the timing of All-Pro kicker Will Reichard. It appears that Thorson earned Reichard’s trust. — Kevin Seifert
Traded: OL Walter Rouse
Waived/released: DL Jonathan Harris, P Johnny Hekker, DL Isaiahh Loudermilk, S Tavierre Thomas, CB Da’Veawn Armstead, WR Michael Briscoe, G Henry Byrd, WR Terrill Davis, C Gavin Gerhardt, G Joshua Gray, S Kahlef Hailassie, CB Tre Hawkins III, LB Bangally Kamara, TE Marshall Lang, TE Matt Lauter, G Vershon Lee, OL Tristan Leigh, OL Delby Lemieux, CB Bryce Phillips, OL Tomas Rimac, DL Jahvaree Ritzie, LB Josh Ross, WR Trayvon Rudolph, WR Marcus Sanders Jr., RB Zavier Scott, OLB Cam’Ron Stewart, DL Smith Vilbert, CB Jarod Washington.
Waived/injured: CB Marcus Allen, OLB Kenny Dyson Jr., WR Dontae Fleming, RB Jermar Jefferson, TE Bryson Nesbit, LB Jacob Roberts
Injured reserve: LB Tyler Batty, C Michael Jurgens (designed for return)
Reserve/suspended: WR Jeshaun Jones
NFC South
Biggest move: The Falcons will carry four quarterbacks, at least for now. Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand all made the 53-man roster. Atlanta has still not decided who will start Week 1. Penix (left ACL) just got cleared and his first full practice was only last week. Tagovailoa came into camp with a tight back and has had some struggles. Rush was signed the day before camp due to injuries and Strand, out of Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead, has wowed at times with his fast development. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and company still have a major decision to make. — Marc Raimondi — Marc Raimondi
Traded: CB Clark Phillips III
Waived/released: OL Wanya Morris, EDGE Bralen Trice, DT Eric Johnson II, LB Channing Tindall, OL Brandon Walton, DL Devonnsha Maxwell, WR Keelan Marion, LB Daveren Rayner, OL Jaeden Roberts, TE Joshua Simon, DB Keidron Smith, OL Andrew Stueber, WR Vinny Anthony II, EDGE Cameron Sample, C James Brockermeyer, OL Riley Mahlman, CB A.J. Woods, TE Nick Muse, RB Nathan Carter, DL Carlos Allen Jr., WR Dylan Drummond, EDGE Azeez Ojulari, EDGE Keshawn Banks, CB Cobee Bryant, RB Tyler Goodson, RB Cash Jones, OL Kam Dewberry, DL Marlon Tuipulotu, WR Antwane Wells Jr., LB Josh Woods, TE Jack Velling, DL Chris Williams
Reserve/suspended: EDGE James Pearce Jr., DB Darren Hall, WR Beaux Collins, DL Anterio Thompson
