Five surprising NFL roster cuts so far

The 2023 NFL season is just around the corner, and teams are busy cutting down their rosters from the offseason allowance of 90 players, down to just 53.

The roster cut deadline this year: Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. ET, and there have already been plenty of moves which have come as a surprise to many in recent days. Here are five moves that have raised a few eyebrows:

1. Cardinals cut QB Colt McCoy

In 2022, McCoy proved himself to be one of the better backup QBs in the NFL having deputised for Cardinals in place of the injured Kyler Murray for much of last season. All summer, the 36-year-old reserve had been talked about as the de facto Week One starter with Murray still in rehab from his ACL tear.

But following a series of changes in Arizona over the past few weeks, McCoy is the latest casualty of regime change, with the Cardinals trading for Josh Dobbs last week to add competition in the quarterback position. It’s a surprise given the lack of talent they have, but in a rebuilding year, McCoy was only ever going to be a placeholder for Arizona at best.

2. Browns trade for K Dustin Hopkins, and cut Cade York

The Browns’ decision to cut kicker Cade York is another baffling decision from the franchise, particularly given how much they gave up to draft him in 2022. Undoubtedly, it’s been a rough preseason for the player taken with a fourth-round pick last year, and the team are well within their right to head in a new direction at the position.

But Cleveland have now used a future seventh-rounder to acquire his replacement in Dustin Hopkins from the Chargers, a player who wasn’t even guaranteed to be the starter in Los Angeles. If using a draft pick on a kicker didn’t work the first time, it would be unwise to take such a risk again, given the other options available on the market.

Strange decision.

3. Jets cut RB Zonovan Knight

As an undrafted rookie, ‘Bam’ Knight was a breakout hit for the Jets in in four emergency starts towards the back end of 2022, totalling 400 scrimmage yards. But with new signing Dalvin Cook coming in alongside the returning Breece Hall, and both Michael Carter and youngster Israel Abanikanda both fit, Knight unfortunately fell victim to the cut.

While this move isn’t as surprising as others, Knight could make for a good signing for a number of teams throughout the year, so expect his name to pop out at some point in 2023.

4. Texans cut LB Christian Kirksey

Kirksey had established himself as one of the Texans‘ most reliable veterans over the past couple of years. Despite the team’s difficulties, the linebacker was seen as a bright spot and deemed a roster lock for 2023, having recorded 124 tackles, three sacks, 7 tackles for lost and two interceptions in 2022.

Obviously the Texans are in full re-build mode, and looking to make progress with their younger stars in 2023. With the release of Kirksey, the Texans saved $5.2 million in cap space, which makes the deal understandable, but also makes Houston a lot more worse off on defnese.

5. Bears cut QB PJ Walker

Despite having signed a two-year contract worth $4.15 million in March, PJ Walker’s time in Chicago is at an end.

What’s surprising about this deal is that it means undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent looks set to be called upon as the QB2 behind Justin Fields, in an unexperienced quarterback line-up. Walker, while not being an exceptional option, would have added needed experience, which could have been valuable for the improving Bears in 2023.