NFL Roster Cuts and New Rules: Key Changes as the Season Approaches

As teams across the league prepare for the upcoming season, several significant changes have been made to the NFL rules, including a ban on hip-drop tackles and new adjustments for kickoffs aimed at enhancing player safety. These changes offer fresh insights into how the game will be played this year.

This past Tuesday marked the roster cut deadline where each team needed to trim their squads down to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET. While many clubs made their decisions known ahead of time, others waited until the last moment to announce their roster adjustments.

The New England Patriots notably moved quickly, parting ways with quarterback Bailey Zappe, who had previously competed with Mac Jones for the starting role. They also released second-year kicker Chad Ryland, who had struggled with his kicking last season.

The Kansas City Chiefs made headlines by cutting wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who, despite being a former first-round pick, was mostly remembered for his controversial offsides penalty against the Buffalo Bills. In his two seasons, Toney caught only 27 passes for 169 yards.

In other developments, the Arizona Cardinals said goodbye to quarterback Desmond Ridder, who had a rocky debut after being drafted in 2022. The Denver Broncos also made significant moves by releasing 6-foot-4 wideout Tim Patrick, who has battled injuries over the last two seasons.

The Houston Texans trimmed their wide receiver position, letting go of Robert Woods, who had a decent season catching 33 passes for 567 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, the Minnesota Vikings parted ways with former first-round pick Lewis Cine, who struggled after a leg injury in 2022.

Other noteworthy casualties include Caleb Farley of the Tennessee Titans and Josh Robinson of the New York Giants, both of whom have faced their share of challenges over the past few seasons. With these cuts, several teams will be looking to strengthen their rosters as they move closer to the start of the new season.

As the NFL season approaches, teams will be watching the open market closely, looking to fill gaps with the talented players that have recently become available.