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Aug 30, 2026 3:08 pm

NFL roster cuts: Teams get down to 53 players

colby wooden
Photo by: Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

National Football League clubs had until 6 p.m. ET Sunday to trim their rosters to 53 players, with several notable cuts among the day’s roster shuffling.

–Former first-round draft pick Marcus Davenport was released by the Chicago Bears.

Originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2018, Davenport had stints with the Minnesota Vikings (2023) and Detroit Lions (2024-25) before joining the Bears this offseason. The 29-year-old defensive end has 25 career sacks.

–The Houston Texans cut two accomplished receivers in Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones.

Shepard, 33, was a former second-round draft pick of the Giants, racking up 372 receptions, 4,095 yards and 23 touchdowns over eight seasons in New York. After two 300-yard seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he signed with Houston during training camp.

Jones, 31, was likewise a training camp signing and a former second-round pick (2017, Buffalo). He went on to play for the Raiders, Jaguars and Cardinals, totaling 307 receptions for 3,295 yards and 18 TDs.

–The 49ers parted ways with linebacker Deion Jones, just days after acquiring the veteran in a trade with the Saints for running back Zamir White.

Deion Jones was a Pro Bowler in his second season after the Atlanta Falcons made him a second-round pick in 2016. After his Falcons stint (2016-21), he went on to play for the Cleveland Browns (2022), Carolina Panthers (2023) and Buccaneers (2024-25) before signing with New Orleans this offseason.

San Francisco also released 10-year cornerback Eli Apple, though he could be bound for the practice squad, where he spent large chunks of the 2025 season for the 49ers.

Apple played in a Super Bowl as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals after entering the league as the No. 10 overall draft choice of the Giants in 2016.

The 31-year-old has six career interceptions in 104 appearances (82 starts) with the Giants, Saints, Panthers, Bengals, Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers and 49ers.

–The Cincinnati Bengals released veteran QB Josh Johnson and waived wide receiver/kick returner Charlie Jones among their roster moves.

The well-travelled Johnson, 40, has appeared in NFL games with the Buccaneers, Browns, Bengals, Washington, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens and 49ers with 14 career touchdown passes.

Jones, 27, averaged 25.8 yards over 42 kickoff returns, including a 98-yard touchdown, in 2025. He also averaged 8.8 yards over 13 punt returns, while being used sparingly at wide receiver.

–The Indianapolis Colts waived defensive tackle Colby Wooden and running back Ulysses Bentley IV.

Wooden, 25, was acquired in a trade from the Green Bay Packers in March. In 47 games (17 starts) over three seasons in Green Bay, Wooden has 87 tackles.

Bentley, 25, played in one game with the Colts last season.

–The Tennessee Titans released guard Cordell Volson, a former fourth-round draft pick of the Bengals.

Volson, 28, made 48 starts in 50 games from 2022-24 for the Bengals. He underwent season-ending right shoulder surgery in August 2025 and was designated injured/waived by the Bengals in August.

Volson signed with the Titans in March.

–Field Level Media

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