- NFL teams must reduce their roster to 53 players by the deadline.
- Several notable players were released, including some quarterbacks.
- Waived players may join practice squads in the coming days, should they clear waivers.
The NFL’s 32 teams are dealing with one of the most difficult days on the calendar Tuesday. By 4 p.m. ET, each squad must whittle its active roster to just 53 men.
NFL clubs are permitted to carry 90 players during the offseason, and sometimes more thanks to various roster exemptions. That makes the task of parting with dozens of players to form the initial roster excruciating.
The good news for NFL teams? Just because players are released or waived does not mean they will leave the organization. Many will end up re-signing to the team’s practice squad, which can be formed beginning at noon ET on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Still, there is no guarantee a released player will return to the team. Veterans released are free to sign anywhere while younger players placed on waivers are free to be claimed by any NFL team.
Here’s a look at some of the most interesting players released ahead of the NFL’s roster cut deadline, from the league’s heaviest player to a plethora of well-known young quarterbacks.
Desmond Watson, DT, Buccaneers
When Watson signed with the Buccaneers, he became the heaviest player in NFL history at 449 pounds. However, he never practiced or saw the field during the preseason, as Tampa Bay wanted him to lose weight before getting the undrafted free agent any action.
Will another team give Watson the chance the Buccaneers didn’t? The NFL’s other 31 clubs will have a chance to claim the 22-year-old behemoth off waivers.
Dan Skipper, OT, Lions
Most NFL fans know Skipper from a disputed 2023 play against the Dallas Cowboys. Officials ruled the 6-9, 334-pound blocker had reported eligible on a 2-point conversion attempt, which wiped out a go-ahead score by left tackle Taylor Decker.
But Skipper spent part of seven seasons with the Lions and developed into a high-quality swing tackle for the team. He was a fan favorite in Detroit and drew cheers every time he reported as an eligible receiver in 2024.
Now, Skipper will be looking for a new NFL team. He could find a fit with the Chicago Bears, where Skipper’s former offensive coordinator turned Bears coach Ben Johnson could look to upgrade his team’s left tackle position on eve of the season.
Tommy DeVito, QB, Giants
The Giants opted not to keep four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster. That made DeVito the odd man out after New York added Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart to the quarterback room during the offseason.
DeVito, 27, completed 30 of 38 passes for 323 yards, four touchdowns and one interception during the preseason. He could find a new home on waivers or remain with the Giants as part of their practice squad.
Kenyon Green, G, Eagles
The Eagles acquired Green as part of the CJ Gardner-Johnson trade. The first-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft was unable to make the team despite an injury to left guard Landon Dickerson.
Now, all Philadelphia has to show for the Gardner-Johnson trade is a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Hendon Hooker, QB, Lions
The Lions entered the 2025 NFL offseason hoping Hooker would have a chance to win the backup job behind Jared Goff. Instead, the 2023 third-round pick lost the job to journeyman Kyle Allen.
Hooker completed 22 of 40 passes for 187 yards and three interceptions during the 2025 preseason. The 27-year-old will now get the ‘change of scenery’ Dan Campbell implied he could use after Detroit’s preseason finale.
Kyle Trask, QB, Buccaneers
Trask has been with the Buccaneers since the team selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. They decided to move on from the 27-year-old less than three weeks after inking 32-year-old veteran Teddy Bridgewater to join their quarterback room.
Trask will revert to IR because of a shoulder injury, but the Buccaneers plan to release him with an injury settlement, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. That opens the door for Bridgewater to be Tampa Bay’s primary backup behind Baker Mayfield.
Meanwhile, Trask will finish his Buccaneers career having completed just 4 of 11 passes for 28 yards in limited regular-season action.
Mike Hilton, CB, Dolphins
The Dolphins have one of the NFL’s shakiest cornerback rooms, so it might surprise some to see they parted with Hilton. The nine-year veteran has been a solid slot man and a particularly good blitzer during his career.
That said, Hilton didn’t work much with the first-team defense during the preseason. Instead, rookie fifth-round pick Jason Marshall Jr. got the top slot reps. Miami’s confidence in his development could have led them to be comfortable releasing Hilton.
Hilton could also have been pushed off the roster by Miami’s signing of Rasul Douglas to a one-year deal on eve of the roster cut deadline. The former Buffalo Bills cornerback plays more outside than Hilton and will add needed size (6-2, 209 pounds) to Miami’s secondary.
Michael Gallup, WR, Commanders
Gallup retired before the 2024 NFL season but attempted a comeback with the Commanders during the offseason. The 29-year-old caught four passes for 40 yards during the preseason but was unable to do enough to move up Washington’s depth chart.
It isn’t clear whether Gallup’s release will end his comeback bid or if the 2018 third-round pick will look to latch onto one of the NFL’s practice squads.
