The NFL’s cutdown to 53 players is the most brutal 48 hours on the calendar, and the 2026 deadline (Sunday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. ET) has already produced a wave of surprising releases. Veterans with Super Bowl rings, former draft picks, and special-teams mainstays are all hitting the wire. Below is our live tracker of the most notable NFL roster cuts: the veterans, former draft picks, and special-teams mainstays released so far, team by team. This page is updated live through the deadline and the waiver period, so bookmark it and check back.
Note: These are the headline names. For the complete, printable 53-man breakdown for all 32 teams, see our 2026 NFL Roster Cuts hub and printable tracker.
Biggest Names Cut So Far
The names below reflect reported releases as of the cutdown. Remember: a cut is not always the end of the road. Any player with fewer than four accrued seasons is subject to waivers, and many veterans will be re-signed to the practice squad within days.
AFC
- Buffalo Bills: WR Mecole Hardman, P Mitch Wishnowsky, WR Dante Pettis
- Miami Dolphins: WR Theo Wease Jr.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Cornell Powell
- New York Jets: QB Bailey Zappe
- Cleveland Browns: WR Cedric Tillman
- Denver Broncos: WR Hakeem Butler
- New England Patriots: EDGE Amari Gainer
NFC
- Philadelphia Eagles: WR Johnny Wilson, WR Quez Watkins, RB Carson Steele, RB Ja’Quinden Jackson
- San Francisco 49ers: RB Khalil Herbert
- New York Giants: WR Isaiah Hodgins
- Carolina Panthers: OT Ryan Hayes
Wide receiver is once again the deepest and most cutthroat room in football, headlining this year’s list of casualties. We’ll keep adding names as they’re confirmed.
What Happens Next: Waivers & Practice Squads
Being cut on deadline day rarely means a player is done. Here’s the sequence that follows:
- Waivers: Players with fewer than four accrued seasons are placed on waivers. Teams claim them in reverse order of the 2025 standings, so the league’s weakest rosters get first crack.
- Free agency: Vested veterans (four-plus seasons) become free agents immediately and can sign anywhere.
- Practice squad: Beginning the day after cuts, teams build 16-man practice squads. Many of the players above will return to their old team on the PS. Track the full picture on our 2026 NFL Practice Squad Tracker.
Track Every Team’s Full 53-Man Roster
This tracker covers the marquee names. For the deadline rules, the complete team-by-team cut list, and a printable 53-man sheet, head to our full 2026 NFL Roster Cuts hub. And once the regular season kicks off, follow every result on our 2026 NFL Scores page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 NFL roster cut deadline?
All 32 teams must trim their rosters from 90 players to 53 by Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET.
Why do good players get cut every year?
With only 53 spots, roster math is unforgiving. Salary-cap savings, positional depth, special-teams value, and draft-pick investment all factor in, which is why proven veterans are sometimes released in favor of cheaper, younger options.
Can a cut player be signed again?
Yes. Players can be claimed off waivers, signed as free agents, or added to a 16-man practice squad. Many of the names on this list will be back in the league within a week.
This is a live tracker and reflects reported releases as of the cutdown deadline. Names, teams, and transactions are updated as they are confirmed through waivers and practice-squad signings.
