And then there were 1,696. That’s the cold, hard number of players left on NFL rosters after the cutdown deadline hit, ushering in the official start of the regular season grind. For some, it’s the dream realized. For others, it’s a gut punch, maybe softened by a practice squad spot or another team’s call. But honestly, the biggest bombshell on cutdown day had absolutely nothing to do with who got waived: Aaron Donald, the megastar defensive tackle, is back with the Rams. Yeah, like Los Angeles wasn’t terrifying enough already, right?
Arizona’s Rookie Surprise and a Familiar Problem
Down in Arizona, the Cardinals saw a seventh-round pick make some serious noise. Jayden Williams, an offensive tackle, didn’t just make the 53-man roster, he climbed all the way to the second unit. Can you believe it? This 6’4″, 307-pound dude saw snaps at both tackle spots in camp. He was a 15-game starter at right tackle for Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff, and he’s got 19 starts on the left side too. That’s a steal for a seventh-rounder, proving you can find talent late.
On the flip side, running back Trey Benson hit a wall. It was no secret he was on the bubble after the Cardinals brought in Tyler Allgeier and drafted Jeremiyah Love. Sure enough, the former third-round pick got waived with an injury designation before landing on injured reserve. The theme with Benson is brutal: he just can’t stay on the field. He got a shot last year when James Conner got hurt, only to suffer a knee injury after one game. That same injury flared up this summer, keeping him off the practice field. Man, you gotta feel for him, but in the NFL, availability is everything.
Atlanta’s Quarterback Rollercoaster Just Hit a Wall
Over in Atlanta, it’s been a wild ride. Fourth-round pick Kendal Daniels looks like a winner. The Falcons drafted him for traits and athleticism, and he’s impressed so much that there’s a real chance this 6’5″, 242-pounder could start at inside linebacker next to Divine Deablo. Marc Raimondi from ESPN even said the Falcons trusted him with the “green dot” at times because of injuries. That’s massive for a rookie. Christian Harris is probably shaking his head.
But then there’s the quarterback situation, and honestly, it’s a disaster. With Michael Penix Jr. limited through most of camp, the starting job was Tua Tagovailoa’s to lose. And according to Ian Rapoport, Tua did his “level best to lose it.” The organization apparently wanted Tua to start right away, let Penix come along slow. But Tua’s play made that impossible, not just in preseason games, but in practice too. Yikes! That means it’s Michael Penix’s job for the taking now. Talk about a complete flip.
So, here we are, on the verge of Week 1, with roster cuts finalized and the offseason officially wrapped. This is it, folks. The countdown to the Super Bowl LX rematch is on, and the league is ready to kick things off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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