Week 1 of the preseason ends on Sunday, and teams will have more intel on players on the bubble when making roster decisions.
Every year, there are players expected to make the team who fall victim to training camp. We’ve seen two veterans released in recent times: receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster of the New England Patriots and Logan Thomas of the San Francisco 49ers.
Surprise cuts are more common, especially when under-the-radar players emerge who are also cheaper than veterans at the same position.
Here is a list of eight players who could be breaking a sweat this season:
QB Taylor Heinicke, Falcons
It seemed like a good idea for him to re-sign with Atlanta, but before the team signed Kirk Cousins ​​as a free agent and drafted Michael Penix Jr. If Penix shows he can be a QB2 in the preseason, Heinicke could be asked to turn on the playbook.
RB Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins
Looks like a good insurance policy behind running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane in case of injury. But now it looks like fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright (55 yards, 10 in the preseason opener) will knock Wilson off the roster.
WR Allen Lazard, Jets
Oh yeah, can’t make Aaron Rodgers mad, or he’ll sulk for weeks. But there is no way to justify Lazard receiving $10 million in base salary this season after 23 receptions for 311 yards and one score in 2023. Rodgers loves Lazard from Green Bay tenures, but the last game has dropped off significantly.
WR Kadarius Toney, Chairman
How much rope that wonderful 65-yard punt return in the Super Bowl win over the Eagles 18 months ago gave Toney? He averaged just 6.3 yards per reception last season and has dealt with ankle and back injuries this preseason. The Giants gave up on him in 2022, and the Chiefs will next. The question is if it will be now.
S Damar Hamlin, Bills
His career path continued to be altered when he was nearly killed on the field in Cincinnati at the end of the 2022 season. It was amazing that he even played last season, but only got 17 defensive snaps in five appearances. Letting him go will be emotionally difficult for the Bills and the Buffalo area, but his production is paramount in the NFL.
CB James Bradberry, Eagle
Philadelphia selected Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell (22nd overall) and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean (40th overall) early in the NFL draft. When you pick two cornerbacks that tall, it’s usually a holdover on the way out. It could be the 31-year-old Bradberry, who sat out last season and is entering the second year of a three-year, $38 million contract.
DE Payton Turner, Saints
The 28th pick of the 2021 draft has played in just 15 games over three seasons and has three career sacks. Not exactly what New Orleans had in mind. Injuries have been an issue, as he only played in two games last season with a toe injury, and he recently suffered a setback with the same toe.
G. Royce Newman, Packers
He looked like a solid fourth-round pick when he started 16 games in 2021, but his production dipped, and he started just eight of 34 contests over the past two seasons. Green Bay selected three offensive linemen in the 2024 draft, so there will be a numbers game, and someone coming off of last year’s team will be packing.