KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 28: Safety D'Anthony Bell #23 of the Seattle Seahawks stops running back Brashard Smith #24 of the Kansas City Chiefs short of the goal line on a fourth quarter run in NFL preseason game action at Arrowhead Stadium on August 28, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs don’t win in the preseason — but sometimes, the team doesn’t lose either! The starting defense and most of the offense took the field Friday night to give us a glimpse of what the 2026 Chiefs could look like, and it was pretty good.
The defense was difficult to run on, and even got pressure with only four pass rushers at times. On offense, rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier played the entire game and looked the part of a young backup. Tight end Travis Kelce got some reps, including a catch and a little dance. But the big story should be the renewed focus on the running game: 37 carries split among a variety of runners with pretty consistent success.
Here are a few Chiefs who stood out as Kansas City wrapped up the exhibition slate with a tie against the Seattle. Seahawks.
Winners
Defensive end R Mason Thomas: It doesn’t matter that it’s preseason, or who he was facing; Thomas just looks the part. He had a strip sack in this one along with some quick pressure on limited snaps. It’s not a stretch to say he’s already the most gifted edge rusher on the Chiefs’ defense, and the most promising speed rusher the team has drafted in recent years. He’ll keep getting better, but you can’t teach the explosion and the fight that he’s shown so far.
Running back Brashard Smith: The Chiefs have really been working on their run game, and for the final preseason game, it was all about Brashard Smith. Each running back looked good, but Smith got the longest look, with the most carries and yards on either team. He’s improved, he’s gotten stronger, and he broke off a 57-yard kick return. Smith should be a roster lock, but he also looks like a guy they’ll want to get on the field with the ball in his hands.
Defensive Tackle Peter Woods: He may have heard the criticism from the last two preseason games — or he may just have gotten healthier. Whatever happened, Peter Woods made his presence felt against the Seahawks. As a team, the Chiefs held their opponent to under 30 yards rushing by rallying to the ball and disrupting plays in the backfield. It was nice to see the rookie in the mix and looking good.
Cornerback Mansoor Delane: He moves at a different speed than the average corner, especially for a rookie. Another perfect form tackle for a loss this week; Delane looks ready to dominate.
Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong: He was the favorite target of Garrett Nussmeier this week, and for good reason. Armstrong continued to make his case for a roster spot with diving catches, sideline toe taps and physicality.
The Chiefs’ offensive line: The run game looked solid, regardless of the ball carrier — over 4 yards per carry. But pass protection took a step forward as well; from the starters to the backups, Nussmeier made it through the game without taking a sack. Perhaps it was the return of right guard Trey Smith. Perhaps there was a bit more urgency for the incumbents given the trade for Josh Ezeudu. Either way, it felt like a step in the right direction for the big uglies.
Defensive lineman Marcus Harris: He’s quietly put together a strong preseason and has a real chance to make an NFL roster this week. Marcus Harris helped close out this tie with three tackles in the closing minutes. His spot on the 53-man roster may depend on the health of some other guys, but Harris has done everything he can to make a strong impression.
Losers
I’m not sure it’s fair to call out many “losers” this week.
Sure, there were too many penalties, Nussmeier threw an interception and kicker Harrison Butker missed from 58 yards away.
We’ll find out on Sunday who did enough to earn a job, and who didn’t.
Hopefully, most of these guys will get a chance to continue chasing their NFL dreams even if not in Kansas City.
Multiple softball players from Texas Tech were injured in an accident at Lake Ransom Canyon on the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 27, a spokesperson for the Red Raiders confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
In a statement, the spokesperson did not specify the nature of the injuries, how exactly they were caused or how many players were involved. The players were at the lake as part of a “team event.”
“There were thankfully no critical injuries as a result of the accident,” a Texas Tech spokesperson said. “All injured student-athletes have been treated and are expected to make a full recovery.”
The Ransom Canyon Police Department and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY Sports’ request for comment.
In a post on X on Friday night — which quoted a story from D1softball.com that said three Red Raiders were injured in a jet ski accident — Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco wrote, “Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers! Glad everyone is okay and recovering well!”
Over the past two seasons, Glasco has transformed Texas Tech into one of the perennial powers in softball. The Red Raiders have gone 115-24 over the last two years and in each season have advanced to the finals of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City — losing both times to Texas.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 22: A detail of the NFL logo on The Duke Wilson football ball before a preseason game between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions at Ford Field on August 22, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This Sunday, August 30th, is a big day on the NFL calendar. By 6 PM ET on that day, NFL teams will have to cut down their roster to the initial 53-man roster. The Cowboys have some tough decisions to make as we have discussed extensively over the past few weeks.
After the cuts occur, a flurry of transactions will happen as other teams try to patch holes by picking up players who are cut, or by trading for them before the cut happens. The process can be confusing, so here are the rules around the waiver wire in the NFL.
When is the waiver deadline?
Teams have until 1 PM ET on August 31st (the day after the cut deadline), to place a waiver claim on a player. The NFL reviews the process, finalizes the moves, and then teams then can begin filling out their practice squads.
Which players can go on waivers?
Once the cuts happen, players are then placed into two buckets depending on their service time in the NFL. The buckets are vested players and players who have yet to reach that designation.
A vested player is one who has been credited with four or more seasons of NFL experience. To be credited for an NFL season, a player must have been on the active, inactive, IR, or PUP roster for three or more regular-season or postseason games. A player can also be credited for a season if they receive an injury settlement or grievance for the equivalent of three or more regular-season games. Note that a credited season is different from accrued seasons, which determine what type of free agent a player is.
Vested players do not go onto waivers and are free to sign with any team at any time, between the day after the Super Bowl and the NFL trade deadline. They are subject to waivers in the period after the deadline through the Super Bowl.
Non-vested players, or players with three or fewer credited seasons, are subject to waivers. If these players go unclaimed, they are free to negotiate with teams as free agents.
How does the NFL determine waiver wire priority?
Once players are determined to be subject to waivers, teams must then be allotted players they claim. But it goes through a waiver order to determine which team’s claim wins on each player. This waiver wire order is used for now and through the first three weeks of the season. That order is the same as the 2026 draft order before any trades were made.
There is also one other key item – after a team is allotted a claimed player, they do not go to the back of the line and wait their turn again. Instead, the team with the top priority who makes a claim gets that player. If the Raiders, who are at the top of the waiver order claim five players, they will get those five players. There is no rotating to the back of the line after making a claim.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 28: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown run by Adam Prentice #46 during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings in a preseason game at Empower Field at Mile High on August 28, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Denver Broncos rested most all their key starters this evening. That gave the Broncos’ coaches plenty of tape to evaluate the backup players vying for a spot on the final 53-man roster. When the game clock struck zero, the Broncos came away with a dominating 34-6 victory in their preseason finale versus the Minnesota Vikings. Here are some instant reactions from tonight’s game.
Broncos’ offense bounces back versus Vikings; Cody Schrader has an incredible performance.
Last week in their 20-point defeat to the Green Bay Packers, the Broncos struggled in the offensive trenches and couldn’t tote the rock on the ground. In turn, their offense fluttered and they only put 13 points up on the board. Earlier in the week, Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb stated he wanted to see more consistency from the group. Tonight, they didn’t disappoint and executed tremendously.
Denver’s starting offensive line was Matt Peart, Kage Casey, Luke Wattenberg, Calvin Throckmorton, and Alex Palczewski. Those five were able to manhandle the competition in the trenches. Wattenberg was eventually replaced by Throckmorton at center, with Palczewski going to right guard, and UDFA rookie Tyler Miller manning down reps at right tackle.
With them paving the way, the Broncos’ running game did much better. Tyler Badie had a few good runs. Meanwhile, Cody Schrader impressed in the first half and averaged nearly eight yards per carry. Schrader continued to perform well in his reps in the second half.
Quite honestly, he was the player of the game for Denver. He finished with 132 all-purpose yards. Will that be enough for him to make the final 53-man roster? I don’t think so. Denver likely keeps just three running backs. Nevertheless, his performance tonight assured him a spot on the 16-man practice squad. He showed a lot of burst and wiggle in the open field.
The only back who struggled in his limited carries early on was Jaleel McLaughlin. However, McLaughlin made up for it with a 20-yard touchdown reception late in the first half. Even so, I’m not sure that will be enough for him to earn a spot when the roster is finalized in less than 48 hours. He saw a lot of playing time even in the second half which usually isn’t a good sign in a preseason finale.
The Broncos finished the game with 400 yards of total offense and 34 points scored. As Head Coach John Fox once said, “Not too shabby.”
Justin Joly has had a relatively quiet training camp and preseason. He hadn’t been targeted much in the first two games and only had a couple of receptions. During his collegiate years, he was one of college football’s most productive players. At North Carolina State, he was a vertical threat and bigtime playmaker.
With that in mind, he was one of the players I hoped would shine tonight versus the Vikings. It took a while for it to happen, but he hauled in an 88-yard touchdown reception from Sam Ehlinger late in the fourth quarter. Sure, the Vikings had busted coverage, but Joly came down with the ball and took it to the house.
Head Coach Sean Payton talks all the time about how a single play or moment can give a player confidence. Maybe this moment will serve as a motivator and momentum builder as he continues to carve out his role with the team and path in the National Football League. Congrats on the big play, Joly!
Two players I felt that stood out for Denver on defense.
One of the big variables before the final roster cutdowns is what will shake out with EDGE rusher Jonathon Cooper. The Broncos haven’t been informed of a decision yet, but he very well could be suspended for at least six games due to his off-the-field issues earlier this summer. Even if that doesn’t happen, 9News insider Mike Klis mentioned Cooper could be placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list as the legal process continues to play out.
That means guys like Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, and Que Robinson will have to step up. I expect Elliss to be the first in line to start. However, I thought Robinson looked quite good in extended playing time. Against the Vikings, he put a lot of pressure on Max Brosmer in the first half. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Robinson has tantalizing traits and upside as a starter. Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph has spoken highly of him this offseason and he should see quite a bit of playing time early on this season if Cooper is not on the roster to begin the season.
Another player I thought impressed again was inside linebacker Karene Reid. In every preseason game to date, Reid has shown a knack for making plays on the ball. Truth be told, he was someone I thought would be a cut. Now? He appears to probably be the best bet for the third backer in the Broncos’ rotation. I still feel Denver may opt to carry five inside linebackers, but will Red Murdock and Jordan Turner be the other two? We’ll know by Monday evening.
Que Robinson with a disruptive set of plays in the red zone here down the stretch of the first half.
A good reaction to the flat on second down and then a third-down pressure.
I don’t envision Kolbe Katsis making the final roster, but he solidified his spot on the 16-man practice squad. Katsis had terrific 48-yard return in the first half. He was a tremendous returner in college and could eventually be a future asset for the franchise down the road for his special team’s ability. However, Marvin Mims Jr. did suffer a foot injury early in the game. The severity is unknown, but if it’s significant enough, Katsis may sneak onto the final roster if Mims has to go on short-term IR.
Tight end Nate Adkins looked good tonight as well. He lined up in a variety of positions and threw some key blocks and had a nice 26-yard catch and run early in the game. I think he will end up making the final roster this year as well. Adam Prentice also got a few looks in the run game including another touchdown score. I think both players will have a big role in propelling Denver’s rushing attack in 2026 and be important in short yardage and goal line situations.
In the third quarter of the broadcast, Klis noted that he didn’t expect the Broncos to make any outside additions via the waiver wire during the roster cutdown process. From what he has heard, Denver’s coaching staff feels good about the players who are developing in the system. That would be a mild surprise to me, but we will just have to see what shakes out over the next couple of days.
Kudos to Sam Ehlinger for bouncing back after an interception to start the game. I don’t feel the Broncos will carry three quarterbacks on the final roster, but he really stepped up and was dialing up great throws down the field in the second half. Ehlinger finished the game going 15-of-20 for 233 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
The Dallas Cowboys are setting their initial 53-man roster and have to be done with the cuts by 6 PM ET on August 30th. All the work done over the offseason – free agency, the draft, OTAs, minicamps, training camp, and three preseason games – will pay off with an initial 53-man roster.
We say initial 53-man roster because teams never stick with just that. Trades might happen before it, or after it. Teams will claim players who are eligible for waiver wire claims, and will try to sign free agent players who don’t have to go through waivers. There are a lot of things that go on during this time so we’ll be tracking the cuts and other news here, while we also have a practice squad tracker later when that time arrives.
Be sure to check back often as we update this list as news becomes available.
EAGAN, MN. - JULY 2026: Vikings GM Nolan Teasley left, and head coach Kevin O'Connell speaks to members of the Media at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minn., on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (Photo by Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)
With the Minnesota Vikings now going through the process of putting together their roster, there will likely be some questions as to how they go about doing that. We are going to attempt to answer those questions in this post.
As we’ve previously mentioned, teams have until 5:00 PM Central on Sunday, 30 August to trim their rosters to 53 players. They can do those by letting players go, making trades, and other means that we will detail.
Released vs Waived
Over the next couple of days, you will hear about players being both released and waived by their teams, including the Vikings. There is a significant difference between those two in terms of what sort of freedom a player has over where he goes after his previous team lets him go.
Players with more than four accrued seasons of NFL experience will be released. A player that is released becomes a free agent and is free to sign with another NFL team immediately.
Any player with less than four accrued NFL seasons will be waived by their teams. That means they are subject to the league’s waiver process.
Waiver Process
After teams finalize their 53-man rosters, teams will have until noon Central time on Monday, 31 August to place claims on any players that were let go and are subject to the waiver process. There is a waiver priority list, and that list is the same as the first-round draft order from the 2026 NFL Draft. To refresh your memory, that means it looks like this:
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
As you can see, the Vikings sit at #18 on the waiver priority list. That means if they put in a waiver claim on a player, they need to hope that none of the 17 teams above them put in a claim on the same player. If even one of those teams claims the same player, they have priority over the Vikings and the Vikings won’t get that player.
Any team can claim as many players as they want during the waiver process. If they are awarded a player, they have to make a corresponding move to add that player to the 53-man roster.
Suspended Players
A suspended player will not count against the team’s 53-man roster. Jeshaun Jones, who was recently suspended for three games for violating the league’s substance policy, could stay with the team for the first three weeks of the season and not count against the 53-man roster, although he wouldn’t be allowed in the facility or be able to participate in any team activities. Or, if the team were to release him and he signed somewhere else, he would not be available to his new team for the first three weeks of the season, either.
Injured Reserve
Should the Vikings have any players that they feel need to spend time on injured reserve, they can place two on IR with a designation to return during the season. Those returnees would count against their allotment of players who are allowed to return during the season, but would not count against the 53-man roster for cutdown purposes.
International Player Partnership Program Players
Right now, the Vikings have a roster exemption for punter Brett Thorson as a part of the league’s International Player Partnership Program. If they determine that he has won the punting battle over Johnny Hekker and makes the active roster, they no longer get an exemption for him. He would be a regular member of the 53-man roster. If they waive him, nobody else claims him, and they bring him back to the practice squad, they could then get an exemption for him to be a 17th member of the practice squad.
Practice Squad
Once all of the waiver claims have been processed by the league, teams are free to sign players who remain unclaimed to the practice squad. We will have a separate practice squad tracker when the time comes and go over all the practice squad rules in that post.
That should be everything you need to know as the Vikings set about building a roster that will, hopefully, improve on their current +3500 odds to win this year’s Super Bowl (thank you, FanDuel Sportsbook).
We’ll be tracking all of the moves the Vikings make on their road to the 53-man roster in our roster tracker, so be sure to keep checking back there for the latest!
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 23: A general view of the Minnesota Vikings logo prior to the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 23, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now that the final preseason game is in the books, the process of getting the roster prepared for the 2026 regular season kicks into overdrive for the Minnesota Vikings (and the 31 NFL teams that don’t matter nearly as much as the Minnesota Vikings), as they attempt to build a roster that gives them a better chance of winning the NFC North than the current +430 odds that our friends at the FanDuel Sportsbook are giving them.
Between now and 5:00 PM Central on Sunday, 30 August, the Vikings must reduce their roster from the current 91 players (they have a roster exemption for punter Brett Thorson as part of the International Player Pathway Program) down to 53. We will get more into the rules in a separate post, but the purpose of this post is to track any cuts, trades, or whatever it might be that are made public by the team between now and that deadline.
Over the past couple of years, a few moves have trickled out here and there from the team, and then they’ve done a big dump of moves at the end to sort of finalize the 53-man roster. However it happens this season, we’ll be doing our best to keep track of things here.
We will update this post with any moves that the team makes, so keep refreshing for the latest.
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 28: Jonathon Cooper #0 of the Denver Broncos tackles Demond Claiborne #21 of the Minnesota Vikings in the first half of a preseason game at Empower Field At Mile High on August 28, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the final preseason game of the season, the hope is, generally, that you can put together a performance that you can feel good about heading into the games that count, even though a lot of the starters don’t play.
The final preseason game of 2026 for the Minnesota Vikings was. . .pretty much the exact opposite of that.
The Vikings’ defense got scorched by Sam Ehlinger for most of the evening, and the offense failed to find the end zone for the second consecutive game as they fell to the Denver Broncos by a final score of 34-6 in the 2026 preseason finale at Mile High on Friday night.
The Broncos got the football first, and immediately went down and put up points on their first possession courtesy of a 43-yard field goal from Will Lutz to make it 3-0. There was some bad news on the drive for the Vikings as undrafted free agent safety Jacob Thomas, who has made quite an impression so far this preseason, hurt his ankle on a third-down play and needed to be helped off the field.
The Vikings’ offense, led by Carson Wentz due to J.J. McCarthy being out of this game with an ankle injury, took the field and immediately went three-and-out. Brett Thorson got the first punt of the night, and he blasted a nice 54-yarder that went out of bounds at the 12-yard line. The Broncos’ offense went back out on the field and, once again, pushed the ball down the field in convincing fashion. Jarrett Stidham marched the home team on an 88-yard drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Adam Prentice, and the Broncos had a 10-0 lead with three and a half minutes left in the first quarter of play.
Minnesota’s offense did manage to pick up a first down on the ensuing possession and got the ball out to midfield, but Wentz’s pass to Gavin Bartholomew was stopped short on third down, and the Vikings punted it away again to start the second quarter.
Denver turned to Sam Ehlinger at quarterback on the next drive, and the Vikings got themselves a turnover courtesy of safety Khalef Hailassie. Hailassie had a couple of picks last offseason, and he stepped in front of a pass intended for Dane Key to get one in this game, setting the Vikings up in Denver territory.
With Max Brosmer taking over at quarterback for Wentz, the Vikings turned the interception into three points, as Will Reichard connected on a 46-yard field goal to cut the Denver lead to 10-3. The Vikings appeared to have a third-down conversion to extend the drive prior to that, but an illegal formation penalty took it away and forced the Vikings to settle for the field goal attempt a couple of plays later.
Denver returned the ensuing kickoff into Minnesota territory, which I’m sure Matt Daniels wasn’t necessarily thrilled with. The drive didn’t do much with the field position, however, and Lutz came on again for another field goal attempt. This one was a 37-yarder, and the veteran connected to push the lead back to ten once more at 13-3 with five and a half minutes remaining before halftime.
A touchback on the ensuing kickoff gave the Vikings good starting field position, and Brosmer led what might have been the best overall drive of the preseason, moving the offense down the field with some solid throws. Minnesota eventually got into a goal-to-go situation. . .and then Brosmer threw it away on three consecutive plays, leading to a 28-yard field goal from Reichard to make it 13-6 with a minute and a half left in the second quarter.
Ehlinger and the Broncos got the ball back and marched down the field in short order, connecting on a pair of big passes to get near the Vikings’ red zone with thirty seconds remaining. Ehlinger then found Jaleel McLaughlin out of the backfield for a 20-yard catch-and-run for the Broncos’ second touchdown of the night to make it 20-6 heading into the locker room.
The Vikings got the ball to start the second half, and promptly went three-and-out as a third-down conversion was wiped out by yet another penalty. The Broncos responded with a three-and-out of their own on their first possession of the half. Minnesota took over and managed to push the ball to midfield, but ultimately ended up punting the football away once again.
A third-down stop by the Vikings on Denver’s next possession was negated by a hands to the face penalty on 3rd-and-13, which we’re sure Brian Flores was absolutely thrilled with. That allowed the drive to push into the fourth quarter, and Ehlinger put the capper on a 17-play, 85-yard drive. . .yes, seventeen plays, eighty-five yards. . .with a 14-yard touchdown pass on a 4th-and-2 play to Cody Schrader to extend Denver’s lead to 27-6 early in the final stanza.
To the Vikings’ credit, they responded with another long drive that pushed into the Denver red zone. Ultimately, they found themselves looking at a fourth-and-goal from the Denver 6-yard line and elected to go for it. Brosmer threw a quick pass to Jermar Jefferson out of the backfield, and he was taken down immediately for a turnover on downs.
The Vikings’ defense then put the capper on a really awful night by allowing an 88-yard touchdown pass from Ehlinger to tight end Justin Joly, who didn’t have a purple jersey within 20 yards of him when he caught the football. He ran untouched for around the final 40 yards to the end zone, and the extra point extended Denver’s lead to 34-6 with just over eight minutes remaining in regulation.
There really wasn’t anything to report after that. Nobody in purple really covered themselves in glory in the preseason finale, and now the focus will shift to the flurry of roster moves that the Vikings will make in order to get their roster down to 53 players. The next time they take the field, it will be for the regular season opener on 13 September when they host the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The preseason is over, and not a moment too soon for the Minnesota Vikings, as they fall to the Denver Broncos 34-6 in the 2026 preseason finale. Thank you to everyone who got their coverage of this week’s game right here at The Daily Norseman!
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 28: Cody Schrader #25 of the Denver Broncos runs with the football during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings in a preseason game at Empower Field at Mile High on August 28, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final preseason game is often a snooze fest, but this one between the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings was anything but. Denver had themselves plenty of big plays and long, sustained drives. All things you hope to see from the team even if starters are on the bench.
It also helps that the Broncos dominated from start to finish. Despite the fun game, I am so ready for Week 1. How about you?
Broncos vs. Vikings final score
Team
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Minnesota Vikings
0
6
0
0
6
Denver Broncos
10
10
0
14
34
First Quarter
With most of the starters on the bench for this one, it was Jarrett Stidham who got the start and the Broncos took the field first on offense. The offense was clicking on all cylinders early sparked by a 26 yard catch and run by tight end Nate Adkins to get the team into field goal range. Things went south from there after a near interception and a Jaleel McLaughlin stuffed run up the middle. Stiddy would throw an incomplete pass on the next play to Marvin Mims Jr. to kill the drive. Wil Lutz would put Denver on the board first with a 43-yard field goal.
Facing Carson Wentz, the Broncos defense was unfazed and forced a very quick three-and-out to get the ball right back into Stidham’s hands.
Denver’s second drive began just outside of their own 10 yard line. It looked like they might get back in the down and distance mark, but a nifty run by Tyler Badie gained a first down. He had three carries for nearly 20 yards to start that drive making a strong case for his roster hopes.
Stidham went back to the Schrader well two plays later for another 12-yard gain. He’d get a carry on the next play for another 10+ yard run and a first down into field goal range.
After a nine yard scramble by Stiddy and a stuffed run by McLaughlin, the Broncos faced a third and short. A catch by Adkins picked up the first down to setup a first and goal. A short pass to Michael Bandy and then an Adam Prentice plunge would put the Broncos up by two scores late in the first quarter. The 12-play, 88 yard drive had a bit of everything.
The first quarter would come to an end with the Vikings coming up three yards short of the first down marker at midfield to bring up fourth down.
Broncos 10, Vikings 0.
Second Quarter
Stidham’s day was done after the first quarter. He finished 6/9 for 78 yards and two scoring drives. Sam Ehlinger would take command of the Broncos offense from the start of the second quarter on. That drive would be disastrous. After two short runs, Ehlinger sailed a pass on third and seven that would be easily intercepted by the Vikings.
The Vikings, with that good field position, were able to capitalize on the turnover — sort of. They would need a great effort on a third and long to get into the fringe field goal range. The 46-yard field goal cut the lead back to seven points.
Kolbe Katsis ripped off his second 40+ yard return with a 48-yard kickoff return to setup the Broncos up with great field position to start the next drive.
On the first play of the next drive, Cody Schrader would rip off a big gain for a first down. That would settle Ehlinger a bit for this drive as two plays later he would find Cameron Ross open over the middle for another nice gain and then found Schrader open for a first down into the red zone.
An attempted sweep would get blown up to put the Broncos into a second and 16 from their own 18 yard line. A holding penalty pushed them even further backwards. That would kill all momentum and ultimately bring Wil Lutz out for another field goal attempt to put Denver back up by 10.
Minnesota would charge back before the end of the half, but the Broncos defense would have an impressive goal line stand to keep the damage minimized to a field goal.
The Broncos went into hurry-up mode and three massive pass plays by Ehlinger got Denver right into field goal range with half a minute left in the half. Pass plays to Michael Bandy and Justin Joly got to midfield, then a 20 yard dart to Dane Key set the Broncos up nicely on that drive.
Kolbe Katsis had a decent 17-yard punt return after making something out of nothing. He is making the most of his chances with the football and that should be noted.
The Vikings stole the show early in the third quarter with a quality drive spurred by a pretty insane first down catch by Dontae Fleming.
That drive would result in a punt, though, as Denver’s defense would clamp down after two chunk plays to keep Minnesota outside of field goal range.
Schrader took over the Broncos’ next drive early with big runs and big receptions. A 22-yard gain took the Broncos offense across midfield on that drive.
McLaughlin then added another nine yard run where Prentice would pick up the first down into field goal range. Back-to-back negative runs pushed them back and it looked like they would be stopped on third down, but a five-yard defensive penalty gave them an automatic first down.
The quarter would end with the Broncos flirting with the red zone.
Broncos 20, Vikings 6.
Fourth Quarter
The drive would stall inside the red zone on a third and two inside run to McLaughlin that was stuffed. They decided to go for it with Ehlinger getting pressured and throwing it up into the end zone to a wide open Schrader for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
The play looked absolutely broken, but they pulled a rabbit out of that hat.
The Broncos defense would add a fourth-down goal line stand and two plays later Ehlinger would find a wide-open Justin Joly at midfield for an incredible 88-yard touchdown to keep the blowout rolling.
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 13: Cincinnati Bengals running back Jamal Haynes (24) walks off the field after the preseason game between the Detroit Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For years, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals has been whether the team has enough depth behind its established stars.
That question feels a lot different heading into 2026.
After finishing the preseason with a perfect 3-0 record, capped by Friday night’s convincing 30-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bengals have something that NFL teams generally don’t complain about: too many players making legitimate cases for roster spots.
That’s not to say Cincinnati’s roster is perfect. There are still questions to answer before the 53-man roster is finalized, and some players who have performed well this summer are inevitably going to wind up on the outside looking in.
But that’s precisely what makes this year’s preseason so encouraging.
As we discussed on the Orange & Black Insider, several of Cincinnati’s most difficult roster decisions aren’t necessarily the result of a lack of talent. They’re the result of the Bengals having more viable options than available spots.
And the preseason finale against Philadelphia only reinforced that point.
The defensive line might be the biggest “good problem”
It’s difficult to find a position group that has changed more dramatically than Cincinnati’s defensive line.
The Bengals entered the offseason needing to improve their interior pass rush and overall defensive-front depth. They responded by adding significant veteran talent, including Dexter Lawrence, while continuing to develop younger players such as Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson, and others.
Then came the emergence of players such as Landon Robinson.
Suddenly, Cincinnati has a defensive line where some talented players could find themselves fighting simply to make the roster. The preseason finale offered another glimpse of that depth.
Isaiah Foskey and Antwaun Powell-Ryland combined for a sack on Philadelphia’s opening possession, with Powell-Ryland getting credit for the sack after the play. The Bengals’ defense consistently disrupted the Eagles early, holding Philadelphia without a touchdown until well into the second half.
Foskey, in particular, has made a strong case throughout the preseason. That’s the kind of competition Cincinnati desperately needed.
A year ago, the questions may have been whether the Bengals had enough pass-rush depth, as well as concerns surrounding the secondary and offensive line.
Now the question is: Who doesn’t make the team?
That’s a considerably better problem.
Dohnte Meyers may have eliminated one of the biggest roster questions
Few players have benefited more from the preseason than Dohnte Meyers. He entered training camp as a relatively unknown player who was trying to establish himself after playing in the CFL.
However, he leaves the preseason looking like a player the Bengals would be taking an enormous risk by trying to sneak onto the practice squad. Meyers played early on Friday night, but he made it count and exited early as well.
The receiver caught three passes for 51 yards on three targets, accounting for 51 of Cincinnati’s 60 yards on its opening drive. His catches went for nine, 17 and 25 yards. Then the Bengals wisely took him out.
Meyers finished the preseason with 11 catches for 121 yards, while also contributing 22 rushing yards, 54 kickoff-return yards and 45 punt-return yards during the preseason. At some point, the question stopped being whether Meyers could make the roster.
Now it’s more about how Cincinnati plans to use him. And that creates another good problem.
The final receiver spots could be extremely difficult
Meyers isn’t the only player who has made things complicated.
Ke’Shawn Williams caught a touchdown pass from Sean Clifford in the second half Friday night, while Charlie Jones continued to demonstrate his value as a returner and receiver. Jones had a 31-yard punt return and caught two passes for 36 yards against Philadelphia.
Williams, meanwhile, caught the 11-yard touchdown from Clifford, providing another significant moment in a preseason filled with competition for the final receiver spots. Then there are Mitchell Tinsley, Charlie Jones, Andre Iosivas, and the other receivers who have been competing for roles behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
The Bengals don’t simply have to determine who can catch passes.
They have to consider:
Who contributes on special teams?
Who can play multiple receiver positions?
Who blocks?
Who can return kicks or punts?
Who has the most developmental upside?
Who can help immediately if an injury strikes?
That’s why this isn’t simply a statistical competition. It’s a roster-construction puzzle. And the Bengals have several pieces that could fit.
Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford have made the quarterback decision fascinating
Perhaps no player has done more to complicate an otherwise straightforward roster decision than Josh Johnson. The Bengals entered camp with Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco firmly established as the top two quarterbacks.
The question was whether Cincinnati would keep a third quarterback on the 53-man roster or attempt to develop one on the practice squad. Johnson has made that decision considerably more difficult.
The 40-year-old veteran started the preseason finale and completed 12 of 19 passes for 156 yards, helping Cincinnati put nine points on the board during his first-half appearance. He had also already made a strong impression against Chicago, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals’ second preseason game.
Then there’s Sean Clifford, who took over in the second half against Philadelphia and led three scoring drives, including a touchdown pass to Williams. He also looked solid against the Bears.
The Bengals probably don’t want to devote a 53-man roster spot to both (or maybe even one of them, despite the recent roster rule change on the position). But the fact that this is even a legitimate debate is another sign of the depth Cincinnati has accumulated.
The tight end room is another fascinating puzzle
The Bengals also have an unusually deep collection of tight ends.
Mike Gesicki remains a legitimate receiving threat. Drew Sample provides veteran blocking and versatility. Tanner Hudson has been a productive depth option. Jack Endries flashed during the preseason opener. And, perhaps most importantly, Erick All is attempting to return to the field and establish himself as another weapon.
The Bengals don’t necessarily need one player to dominate this position. They can potentially use the different skill sets to create matchup problems.
A healthy All could give Cincinnati another athletic option who can line up in different places, while Gesicki’s receiving ability creates another target for Joe Burrow.
The question isn’t necessarily whether Cincinnati has enough talent at tight end. It’s how many of them the Bengals can realistically keep.
The secondary has quietly created another roster battle
The preseason finale also provided another strong showing from rookie cornerback Tacario Davis.
Davis broke up a pass on Philadelphia’s opening possession and later intercepted Tanner McKee after the ball bounced off Makai Lemon. He also made a strong tackle against Carson Steele and finished with four tackles and an interception.
That’s another position where Cincinnati appears to have developed meaningful depth. Davis isn’t the only young corner competing for playing time, either.
The Bengals have veterans and young players battling for the final spots, while special teams contributions could ultimately determine which players survive the final cuts. And again, that’s the theme.
It’s not necessarily: “Do the Bengals have enough corners?”
It’s: “Which corners deserve to be here?”
Evan McPherson is another preseason winner
One position where the Bengals appear to have removed virtually all uncertainty is kicker.
Evan McPherson continued his excellent preseason Friday night, going 3-for-3 on field goals, including another 58-yarder. He also remained perfect on his extra-point attempts. That 58-yard make is particularly notable because McPherson had already connected from 58 yards against Chicago.
After a few seasons of inconsistency, McPherson appears to be entering 2026 with his confidence and long-range consistency restored. That’s another preseason storyline that should make Bengals fans feel considerably better heading into the regular season.
The most important thing about the preseason may be the depth
The Bengals’ 3-0 preseason record ultimately won’t mean much once Cincinnati opens the regular season against Tampa Bay. But the way the Bengals got there matters.
They won without relying heavily on their starters. They saw young players emerge. They watched veterans fight for roster spots. They discovered legitimate depth at positions that have been problematic in previous years.
And now comes the difficult part.
Cincinnati has to cut the roster down to 53. That means some good players won’t make it.
Some could wind up on the practice squad. Others could be claimed by another team. A few could become trade candidates. But that is the price of building a deeper roster.
The Bengals aren’t entering the final days before roster cuts desperately searching for players who can fill holes. They’re trying to figure out which players are simply too good to let go. That is a very different problem than Cincinnati has dealt with in recent years.
And if the Bengals can navigate those decisions correctly, it could become one of the biggest reasons this team is capable of taking another step in 2026.
The preseason is over. The New York Giants and the NFL’s other 31 teams have to set their initial 53-man rosters by 6 p.m. on Sunday. Here is my final projection of what roster will look like.
The question here is which of Allen and the recently-signed Haener the Giants choose to keep on their practice squad. I believe Allen gets the nod. He has gotten more reps than Haener, and I have to believe that means something. Haener played well Friday night, but that might have been too little, too late.
Unless somebody makes GM Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh an offer they can’t refuse, I believe Tracy will be on the roster. He showed his explosiveness Friday with 37 yards on just four carries.
Practice squad: Gray
Fullback (1)
IN: Patrick Ricard Out: Grant Finley
The only real question here is whether or not the Giants will keep the 6-foot-4, 281-pound Finley, an undrafted free agent, on the practice squad in hopes of developing him into Ricard 2.0.
Practice squad: Finley
Tight end (3)
IN: Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz Out: Tanner Conner, Thomas Fidone, Josiah Deguara
It was interesting that the Giants used an open 90-man roster spot to add Deguara this week. I don’t believe that will impact the final roster.
The unfortunate knee injury suffered by Calvin Austin opens a spot for Odell Beckham Jr. I am also going with only six wide receivers, dropping Dalen Cambre after having him on the roster in my last projection. I feel like I might regret not including Cambre as a seventh wide receiver, but that’s what I am going to do.
We haven’t seen Hyatt on the field for weeks now, and this is probably the end of the line for him.
Practice squad: Hodgins
Offensive line (9)
IN: Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, Aaron Stinnie, J.C. Davis, Lucas Patrick Out: Bryan Hudson, Evan Neal, Ryan Schernecke, Jake Kubas, Jarrod Gray (International Exemption), Brendan Jaimes
It is still hard to believe that the Giants, unable to field competent offensive lines more often than not over the past 15 years, have traded TWO surplus offensive linemen for draft capital over the past couple of weeks.
The big decision here is Hudson vs. Patrick as the backup center and emergency guard. I have had Patrick in this spot all along, and I am sticking with that. Hudson made a late push, but Patrick got the call ahead of Hudson on Friday night and I think that is an indication of where the staff sees the competition.
Kubas is interesting. If Harbaugh wants an extra offensive lineman, he could get a spot. Still, on game days teams usually dress only eight offensive lineman, so I will drop Kubas to the practice squad.
I have to give credit where it’s due. Neal was outstanding against the Jets. He was a wrecking ball as a run blocker, and it makes you wonder how things might have turned out for him had the Giants movd him to guard sooner. I still don’t see a spot on the roster for him. You can try making a case for cutting Stinnie, but I don’t think the Giants want to do that.
Practice squad: Hudson, Kubas, Schernecke, Gray (International Exemption)
DEFENSE
Defensive line (6)
IN: D.J. Reader, Darius Alexander, Shelby Harris, Chauncey Golston, Leki Fotu, Bobby Jamison-Travis Out: Josh Tupou, Zacch Pickens, Anquin Barnes Jr., Marlon Davidson, Ben Barten
I have waffled on the idea that Jamison-Travis, a sixth-round pick, would make the roster. In the end, I will keep him on the 53 and stash Tupou, a veteran nose tackle, on the practice squad.
I won’t be surprised if the Giants add a veteran dropped by someone else, most likely replacing Fotu. His sack dance is fun, but I won’t be shocked if Jamison-Travis lands on the practice squad. I am keeping him in this projection, but I don’t feel great about it.
Practice squad: Tupou
Off-ball linebacker (5)
IN:Arvell Reese, Tremaine Edmunds, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, Zaire Barnes Out: Darius Muasau, Chandler Martin, Anfernee Orji
I am keeping Barnes for his ability as a special teamer. To be honest, he has also been superior to Muasau as a defender this summer.
Practice squad: Muasau
Edge defender (3)
IN: Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux Out: Caleb Murphy, Khalid Kareem, Trace Ford
Golston has earned a role on the defensive line, but is also the fourth edge defender. I am comfortable keeping three “pure” edge defenders because of his presence.
Practice squad: Murphy, Ford
Cornerback (6)
IN: Paulson Adebo, Greg Newsome II, Colton Hood, Dru Phillips, Deonte Banks, Art Green Out: Korie Black, Nic Jones, Ugo Amadi
The real question here, as it has been for a while, is which players will start Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. Increasingly, it has looked like Banks and Newsome, with Adebo and his $24.199 million cap hit as the third wheel. That would be 8.1% of the Giants’ cap space coming off the bench. If he isn’t going to start, might the Giants be able to deal Adebo.
One other note: I have always had Green making the roster because of special teams, but Black has played well toward the end of the summer. Has he played well enough to steal a job?Maybe.
I think Harbaugh, with his special teams background, will try to find room for an experienced core special teamer like Campbell. I just don’t know where that room comes from.
Practice squad: Campbell
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
IN: Jordan Stout (punter), Dominic Zvada (placekicker), Ben Mann (long-snapper) Out: Ben Sauls (placekicker)
The New Orleans Saints have just wrapped up the 2026 preseason, and now comes the hard part, as the team will need to start making cuts that will reduce their roster down to 53 by Sunday at 5 p.m. CT.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore and staff will have some very difficult decisions to make over the next 42 hours.
Be sure to stay tuned to Canal Street Chronicles as we will keep you updated on all the news and roster moves that will take place this weekend.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS ROSTER CUTS TRACKER:
TBA
What player made the roster that you were surprised about and who is the biggest shocker to be cut? Be sure to check out all the win total odds for the Saints and the entire NFL on FanDuel at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nfl
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 14: An equipment cart with the Falcons helmets is rolled to the locker room after the Friday evening NFL preseason football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos on August 14, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 2026 NFL preseason is over, at least for the Falcons. That means the worst time of the year, final roster cutdowns, is about to begin. The cutdown deadline happens earlier than usual this season, with teams needing to have their final cuts submitted no later than Sunday, August 30 at 6 PM ET. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for Atlanta to make some very tough decisions.
Speaking of tough, the Falcons face a difficult road to make the playoffs this season. Atlanta has the second-worst odds in the NFC South at +240, behind the Bucs (+130) and Saints (+210). A lot of people throwing their money away on the Saints, apparently!
Final roster cuts aren’t necessarily the end for NFL hopefuls, however. Some players will end up on practice squads, while others will be claimed by other teams through the NFL’s waiver process. We’ll detail those rules, and the Falcons position in the waiver order, below.
When is the deadline for waiver claims?
NFL teams must submit waiver claims for eligible players by 1 PM ET on Monday, August 31. That’s a little less than 24 hours after the official cutdown deadline on Sunday. Once claims are submitted, the league will determine who goes where by using the official waiver order—which we’ll detail below.
After the waivers have officially processed shortly after 1 PM ET, the rest of the players will officially become free agents and can then be signed to practice squads or other rosters.
Which players are eligible for waivers?
When determining waiver eligiblity, there are two types of players. Those with less than four “credited” seasons are subject to waivers, and are subject to claims before becoming free agents. Those with four or more credited seasons are considered “vested veterans” and are not subject to waivers. Once released, they immediately become free agents and are eligible to sign with whomever they wish.
A “credited” season is different from an “accrued” season. The latter is used to determine if players become Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs), Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) or Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFAs).
A credited season is as follows: a player must be on an active, inactive, IR, or PUP roster for three or more regular season games. A player who receives and injury settlement (or grievance) for the equivalent of three or more regular season games is also given a credited season.
What’s the current waiver order?
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
How does the NFL determine the waiver order?
For the offseason, preseason, and first three games of the regular season, the NFL uses the draft order from the most recent draft—in this case, the 2026 NFL Draft. Trades in that draft do not affect the waiver order, it’s based on where teams were originally slotted. Things change after the first three games of the season.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 15: Offensive tackle Josh Simmons #71 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands on the team sidelines during the fourth quarter of NFL game action against the Los Angeles Rams at Arrowhead Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For many Chiefs fans, the biggest concern was on a player not actually playing in the game. Second-year tackle Josh Simmons has been absent from practice this week after being evaluated for back pain.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirmed that Simmons was still undergoing testing while stressing that the issue could be prove minor.
Speaking after the game, head coach Andy Reid expressed optimism to Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star that Simmons would practice soon and confirmed that the goal is to have Simmons playing pain free.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time, here,” remarked the coach, “but he’s a hard worker when it comes to these types of things. It’s just a matter of eliminating some of the pain he has. And strength — making sure he has enough strength, there.”
Rookie Kahlil Benson started at left tackle in Simmons’ place on Thursday. In three preseason games, Benson has played three different positions: both tackle spots and right guard. Reid is happy with what the rookie brings if called upon.
“He’s made improvement every week,” Reid observed, “and I like the way he goes about his business. I think he stands a chance to be a good player as long as he keeps progressing. There’s still work to be done. He’s a willing worker, and I love that part. He doesn’t normally make the same mistake twice. I love that part. He is a big human being that is a good athlete, and I like that.”
Reid had no updates on injuries from Friday’s game. Cornerback Melvin Smith Jr. went to the medical tent in the first half. The team later ruled Smith outwith a rib injury.
The Chiefs are expected issue their first official injury report for their Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday, September 10.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 25: Jalen Milroe #6 of the Seattle Seahawks and guard Bryce Cabeldue #77 warm up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 25, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The preseason is in the books, and it is almost time for the regular season to begin, affording the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks an opportunity to defend their title as top dog in the NFL.
Of course, even as the defending Super Bowl champion after having bested the Los Angeles Rams twice over the final two months of the season, the Seahawks enter the season as underdogs in the NFC West according to FanDuel Sportsbook. FanDuel currently has Los Angeles (+500) with better odds of winning the Super Bowl than Seattle (+1100), as well as the over/under for wins by the Rams (11.5) higher than that of the Seahawks (10.5).
Before the regular season opens against the New England Patriots on September 9, though, the Seahawks and the rest of the league will need to trim rosters down to 53, which will include several noteworthy players both in Seattle and around the league on waivers.
As a refresher, in the NFL the waiver order through the offseason and into the third week of the regular season is set based on how teams finished the 2025 season. Thus, the Las Vegas Raiders have first dibs on any player placed on waivers, while the Seahawks will only be able to claim a player after all 31 other teams have passed.
In addition, being awarded a player after a waiver claim does not change the waiver order, thus a team atop the waiver order can claim as many players as it wishes, with the only stipulation that every player claimed must then be placed on the 53 man roster of that team, which means moving on from another player that had initially been kept at roster cuts.
The deadline for teams to trim their rosters down to 53 is 6pm New York time on Sunday, with waiver claims due before 1pm New York time on Monday.
For those curious, the difference between a player who goes on waivers and a player who is outright released is based solely on the experience level of the player, specifically, how many accrued seasons the player has earned in their career. Any player who has four or more accrued seasons does not go on the waiver wire, and becomes a free agent immediately upon their release, while a player with three or fewer accrued seasons is subject to waivers.
Knowing that the Raiders sit at the top and the Seahawks at the bottom, here is a look at the rest of the order with the other 30 teams filled in:
Waiver wire claim order
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks players who would be subject to waivers
Devon Witherspoon
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Derick Hall
Byron Murphy
Grey Zabel
Anthony Bradford
Drake Thomas
Jadarian Price
Nick Emmanwori
Brady Russell
Zach Charbonnet
Elijah Arroyo
Brandon Pili
Emanuel Wilson
Christian Haynes
Jalen Milroe
Chris Stoll
Tyrice Knight
A.J. Barner
Mike Morris
Olu Oluwatimi
Julian Neal
Nehemiah Pritchett
Irvin Charles
Ty Okada
Cody White
Patrick O’Connell
Rylie Mills
Tory Horton
George Holani
Velus Jones
Jalen Sundell
A.J. Finley
Bryce Cabeldue
Beau Stephens
Connor O’Toole
Nick Kallerup
Jared Ivey
Amari Kight
Emmanuel Henderson
Andre Fuller
Deven Eastern
Michael Dansby
Aidan Hubbard
Marvin Jones Jr.
Uso Seumalo
Rashad Rochelle
Ricky White
Logan Brown
Montorie Foster
Federico Maranges
Jamie Sheriff
J.R. Singleton
Bubba Thomas
Jacardia Wright
Jalan Gaines
Derrick Graham
Jordan Washington
Power Echols
Aaron Smith
Tysheem Johnson
Brock Lampe
Justin Jones
Julian Hicks
Kellen Diesch
Obviously, there are many names on that list that are in exactly zero danger of being waived and landing on the waiver wire, but corporate cuts the checks, so when they say to include the full list of Seahawks players who would be subject to waivers, the full list of Seahawks players who would be subject to waivers gets included in the post.
And now it’s on to the waiver wire frenzy for the Day 3 darlings fans loved back in April who failed to make the roster of the team that drafted them.
