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NFL cut-down day full of surprises

By
Associated Press
Published Aug. 31, 2019
Updated Aug. 31, 2019, 11:48 p.m. ET

The cruelest day of the NFL’s long calendar arrived Saturday with teams setting their 53-player rosters.

Among the more prominent dismissals were Bills veteran running back LeSean McCoy, backup QBs Brian Hoyer in New England and Kevin Hogan in Denver, and receivers Laquon Treadwell of the Vikings, Demaryius Thomas of the Patriots and Josh Doctson of the Redskins.

Bills GM Brandon Beane cited the emergence of rookie RB Devin Singletary in the team’s surprising decision to cut the 31-year-old McCoy.

“It was very difficult,” Beane said. “I believed in LeSean the whole time and again, it was down to the last minute we decided to go in this direction.”

In other notable moves:

  • The Broncos need a backup to new QB Joe Flacco after cutting Hogan and rookie Brett Rypien. Broncos GM John Elway said rookie Drew Lock (thumb) will go on IR Sunday with the hope he can return at midseason.
  • The Broncos also placed RB Theo Riddick (shoulder) and TE Jake Butt (knee) on IR.
  •  Another surprise cut by the Bills was veteran CB Captain Munnerlyn, who signed with Buffalo three weeks ago after E.J. Gaines was hurt.
  • The Patriots released Tom Brady’s backup, Hoyer, who was beaten out by rookie Jarrett Stidham, a fourth-rounder from Auburn.
  • The Bengals kept injured receiver A.J. Green on the active roster, hoping he can return from ankle surgery during the first half of the season.
  • Jaguars LB Myles Jack signed a four-year contract extension worth $57 million that includes $33 million guaranteed.
  • The Falcons brought back 44-year-old K Matt Bryant after failing to find his successor in the preseason.
  • The Seahawks set their 53-man roster without a backup quarterback to Russell Wilson after releasing both Geno Smith and Paxton Lynch.
  • Browns veteran P Britton Colquitt lost his job to undrafted rookie Jamie Gillan, aka “The Scottish Hammer .”
  • The Vikings jettisoned K Kaare Vedvik, whom they had acquired from Baltimore on Aug. 11 for a fifth-round draft pick.
  • The Eagles released their two top rushers from last season, Josh Adams and Wendell Smallwood, and OL Stefen Wisniewski, the starting left guard for the 2017 Super Bowl championship team.
  • Chargers fifth-round pick Easton Stick beat out Cardale Jones for the QB3 spot.
  • The Saints cut TEs Alize’ Mack, a seventh-round flyer from Notre Dame, and Dan Arnold, who dropped a TD pass in the NFC championship.
  • 49ers RB Jerick McKinnon went on IR, meaning he’ll miss a second straight season after having complications in his recovery from a knee injury.