Handful of Terps Waived After NFL 53-Man Roster Deadline
With the 4 P.M. deadline for NFL teams to cut down to their 53-man roster, a handful of former Terps are looking for new homes.
Linebacker Keandre Jones was among six roster cuts from the Chicago Bears on Thursday as the undrafted rookie hoped to catch on in the Windy City alongside Josh Woods. Jones becomes the third former Terp waived during training camp as cornerback Tino Ellis was waived from injured reserve with a settlement by the New Orleans Saints in late August.
The Washington Football Club has waived safety Sean Davis, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $5 million over the offseason. Davis played three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after becoming a second-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Seattle Seahawks also waived former Maryland tight end Tyler Mabry despite an impressive showing in camp.
The Pittsburgh Steelers also announced that defensive tackle Cavon Walker, safety Antoine Brooks and offensive guard Derwin Gray have been waived. Walker signed with the Steelers back in the spring after leading the XFL in sacks after just four games, while Brooks was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns also announced that former lineman Michael Dunn was among those waived on Saturday.
The surprise move came last weekend when running back Javon Leake was waived by the New York Giants just days after head coach Joe Judge praised the rookie. Leake went unclaimed on waivers as the Indianapolis Colts brought him in for a workout on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Steelers running back Anthony McFarland returned to practice on Friday after missing practice the day before as Steelers Depot noted the electric back returned kicks alongside Ryan Switzer, Wendall Smallwood, DeAndre Thompkins and Kerrith Whyte.
The New England Patriots enter the 2020 season with a revamped look as Cam Newton replaces Tom Brady as the starting quarterback—and team captain. While the Patriots work through offensive kinks through camp, the secondary gives the defense plenty of optimism as cornerback JC Jackson enters camp as the third cornerback. Former Maryland defensive end Byron Cowart played in just five games during his rookie season but Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio praised the second-year lineman last week.
“He was a 5-technique in their kind of three-man front. They were really a 3-4 defense so he played a little bit more 5-technique,” Caserio said. “He’s probably a little bit more of a run player. I mean, this guy is really thick when you see him. He’s well-built, he’s really strong and plays powerful at the point of attack. He did some decent things at Auburn and he did some decent things at Maryland as well.”
List of former Terps in the NFL
Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs
Buffalo Bills DT Quinton Jefferson
Carolina Panthers LB Jermaine Carter Jr
Carolina Panthers WR DJ Moore
Detroit Lions RB Ty Johnson
Green Bay Packers S Darnell Savage
Minnesota Vikings DE Yannick Ngakoue
New England Patriots CB JC Jackson
New England Patriots DE Byron Cowart
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Anthony McFarland
