The score and the bulk of the yardage came on one play, a 97-yard connection with Tyson Bagent. Thomas has some of the best speed of any rookie wideout — or any wideout regardless of age — and while he’s dealt with injuries in camp, the ability to grab and go is apparent. He’s not likely to be a significant contributor to begin the year, but he’s someone who has to be monitored in this Chicago passing attack.
Davis is a former first-round pick by the Commanders who will now be looking for his fourth organization in four years. The Steelers also released WR Levi Wentz.
Means was a fifth-round pick who showed some potential fantasy intrigue coming out of Pitt in 2024, but it hasn’t worked out. The same can be said for Bell. Both players and Dekkers are candidates for the practice squad. Everyone is a candidate for the practice squad, to be fair.
The team waived or released 10 players ahead of Sunday’s roster cut deadline, including WR Ronnie Bell, S Elliott Davison, EDGE Garrett Nelson, DL Brien Taylor, OT Xavier Truss, QB Hunter Dekkers, WR Bub Means, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DE Khalil Saunders, and DE Malakai Williams. The team will need to trim further Sunday.
Rattler will remain the backup signal-caller behind Tyler Shough, it appears. The 25-year-old showed some flashes — short flashes, but flashes — when operating as the starter with New Orleans, but it’s hard to see him being more than a depth option going forward.
Rypien was signed shortly after Graham Mertz suffered a torn ACL in the middle of August. The 30-year-old seems likely to make the practice squad, unless Houston finds a signal-caller they like more for that spot.
27-year-old Hodgins has found himself on the periphery of the G-Men’s 53-man roster since 2022, making 35 appearances during that timespan. He provided some crucial snaps for an undermanned receiver corps but never did quite enough to crack the targets rotation. He could end up back on New York’s practice squad, though those odds are decreased by this being a new coaching staff.
A linchpin NFL special teamer since 2020, Chisena had been with the Panthers since 2024. He made only seven regular season appearances in Charlotte, suggesting he might ultimately be a poor bet to land back on the 53-man roster this year.
It’s an extremely low-wattage list as the Falcons work to get down to 53 players. 27-year-old Stueber has not appeared in a regular season game since 2024 in Cincinnati.
The former first-round pick has significantly underperformed his high draft capital during his four-year professional career but provides an upside-depth piece for a Cowboys team returning all five starters along the offensive line from a season ago. Jones now presumably settles in behind Terence Steele on the right side in Dallas. The remaining details of the deal were not immediately made available.
Smith was one of the key pieces in the trade that sent Quinnen Williams to Dallas. The Jets declined his fifth-year option in April before eventually releasing him at final roster cuts. Smith graded as one of the worst defensive linemen in the league in 2025, per Pro Football Focus, and will likely be forced to settle for a depth role moving forward.
Ewers appeared in four games for the Dolphins during his rookie season, three of which were starts, and provides the ability to grow into Trevor Lawrence’s direct backup in 2026. While the details of the acquisition were not immediately made available, the deal appears to be a win-win for both sides considering the Dolphins currently find themselves in the midst of a multi-year rebuild.
Ewers appeared in four games for the Dolphins during his rookie season, three of which were starts, and provides the ability to grow into Trevor Lawrence’s direct backup in 2026. While the details of the acquisition were not immediately made available, the deal appears to be a win-win for both sides considering the Dolphins currently find themselves in the midst of a multi-year rebuild.
The news was first reported by Ryan Fowler of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Steele signed a futures deal with the Eagles in January after spending most of last season on the Chiefs practice squad. He was facing an uphill battle to make the team with Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley backing up Saquon Barkley in the Eagles backfield. Steele will head to the open market in search of his next organization.
Okereke was a third-round pick by the Colts in 2019. A seven-year NFL veteran, the 30-year-old linebacker spent the last three seasons with the Giants. He started 17 games with at least 140 total tackles in two of the last three years with New York. Okereke comes to the Panthers as premium linebacker depth.
The seven-year veteran last played for the Giants but was released early in the offseason. Okereke performed admirably in both pass defense and on the pass rush but struggled against the run in 2025, likely now set to fill a rotational role for a Panthers defense that completely re-tooled the interior of their second level. The financial details of the contract were not immediately made available.
Burden returned to practice on Wednesday. On Saturday, Biggs conceded that Burden maybe wasn’t 100% but was moving well while running routes and getting in and out of his breaks. It’s another positive update for Burden, who continues to gain momentum that he’ll be available for Week 1, which is just two weeks away.
The trade was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The draft pick going to the Cardinals is a seventh-round pick in 2028. Kiner was buried on the depth in Arizona, but should immediately step in as the RB3 behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson with the Patriots. A former UDFA who appeared in four games with the Cardinals last year, Kiner is only worth a stash in deeper formats and has no standalone fantasy value.
McCarthy left preseason Week 2 with an ankle injury and returned to practice before ultimately missing preseason Week 3 altogether. According to Lewis, that only added to the murkiness about McCarthy’s 2026 status. All signs point to Carson Wentz as the QB2 after he started Friday’s game against the Broncos. Lewis adds that “McCarthy’s comfort (or lack thereof) with being QB3 could dictate his future in Minnesota” and projects that the Vikings won’t carry him on the 53-man roster to begin the regular season. The 10th overall pick in the draft only two years ago, McCarthy’s path to being a reclamation project for another organization could arrive sooner than anyone thought. Stay tuned.
Hardman’s release was first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. A seven-year NFL veteran, Hardman spent most of his career with the Chiefs, where he helped Kansas City win three Super Bowls. Last year he appeared in only two games with the Bills and dropped passes were an issue in training camp and preseason this year. Hardman will head to the open market where he could be a fit for another team looking for wide receiver depth.
The news was first reported by NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. The draft pick going to the Ravens is a 2028 seventh-round pick. Okoye reunites with Giants HC John Harbaugh after playing under him in Baltimore in 2025. A former UDFA from Nigeria, Okoye figures to bolster the Giants interior defensive line depth as a rotational player.
Egbuka continues to deal with a minor toe injury. Bowles said in recent weeks that he was optimistic about Egbuka’s status, but also wasn’t sure if he’d be available for Week 1. Now he’s hopeful that the 23-year-old wide receiver will be available. The Buccaneers don’t seem too concerned about the injury at this point, making Egbuka a solid WR2 in fantasy drafts.
The Chiefs let most of their starters take the field in this game and Allen wasn’t among them. He didn’t see a snap until after Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton had all left the contest. His first target didn’t come until the third quarter, and it was a drop on a high throw. The rookie rebounded with a 12-yard gain for a first down on the very next play. After playing well into the second half of the team’s final preseason game, Allen is, at best, the Chiefs’ WR4 entering the season. Despite the strong training camp, he shouldn’t be in starting fantasy lineups for Week 1.
The questionable designation is a formality. The teams will not throw Mims back into this game after he left with a foot issue in the first half. Mims’ role as a receiver declined last year, but he remains one of the league’s best returners. Sean Payton would need to figure out a plan for both kick and punt return duties.