Husky NFL Tracker: Ahmed, Adams, Fuller Among UW Players Cut Loose
Ten former University of Washington football players failed to make it through training camp over the past two days as NFL teams pared their rosters to 53, with offensive tackle Trey Adams, running back Salvon Ahmed and wide receiver Aaron Fuller among the most prominent victims.
In particular, it was an extremely rough day for a host of undrafted free agents from last season's Husky team who were looking for a pro football home — seven of the eight in contention for jobs were cut loose, leaving tight end Hunter Bryant as the only survivor.
Bryant, however, is injured and unable to practice, nursing a hamstring injury as he competes for the No. 3 tight end job with the Detroit Lions. But he still has a chance.
"I think, obviously, there's a great deal that he does well in the passing game, and we've been able to see a little bit of that," Lions coach Matt Patricia said of Bryant. "And I think he's done an outstanding job first and foremost of just taking advantage of his opportunity with maybe some of the other things have gone on."
Others released on Saturday read like a who's who of Husky football players: quarterback Jake Browning, cornerback Sidney Jones, offensive guard Jake Eldrenkamp, cornerback Myles Bryant, wide receiver Andre Baccellia and offensive tackle Jared Hilbers. The day before, the Tampa Bay Bucs parted ways with defensive end Benning Potoa'e.
Of 40 former UW players in camp, 30 still have locker room privileges as roster moves will continue heading into next weekend's opening weekend of games.
Adams, once considered a possible NFL first-rounder and a can't-miss pro offensive tackle before injuries took a serious toll on him, was released by the Buffalo Bills. The 6-foot-8, 314-pound Adams had hoped to restore his football street cred on the East Coast, even posing this past week for happy training-camp photos posted on social media.
Yet the Wenatchee, Washington, native was never same player again after suffering knee and back injuries that required surgery. After skipping the Las Vegas Bowl to protect his pro pursuits, Adams turned in a poor combine performance last February in Indianapolis. He simply had lost too much of the flexibility and athleticism that made him such a promising player.
Ahmed, who passed up his final season of college eligibility to pursue the NFL, was cut for the second time in a week, let go this time by the Miami Dolphins after failing to stick with the San Francisco 49ers. The speedster's ability to run between the tackles came into question.
Fuller made a bid to stick with the hometown Seattle Seahawks, but could secure a roster spot among a talented crew of receivers.
Browning, a record-setting four-year starter for the Huskies, couldn't land a roster spot in Minnesota for the second consecutive year. He spent last season on the Vikings' practice squad. It's unclear if he'll resume that role again.
Jones never fully recovered from an Achilles heel tear suffered at his UW pro day. The injury cost him considerable draft standing. It stagnated his pro career. He played 22 games for the Eagles, starting eight.
Baccellia was cut for the second time, after getting dropped earlier by Kansas City. Hilbers started at the tackle spot opposite Adams for the UW and faced an uphill battle to earn a roster slot. Bryant was looking to win a job as a longshot, just like he did as a UW walk-on who earned a scholarship and a multitude of conference honors.
Eldrenkamp last played for the Huskies in 2016 and had been bouncing from NFL team to team, unable to land a roster spot.
In this pandemic world, ex-Husky running back Dwayne Washington was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list for the New Orleans Saints last Sunday, while former UW wide receiver John Ross came off it on Aug. 23.
Seven former Husky cornerbacks and six wide receivers were in competition for roster spots, the most at any position from the UW. Five former tight ends were trying to land pro football employment.
The Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions each had four ex-UW players on their preseason rosters, while the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks counted three each.
Cornerback Desmond Trufant from the Detroit Lions and offensive guard Senio Kelemente of the Houston Texans have the longest pro service among these Huskies, with seven seasons each in the NFL.
We'll keep track of who from the Huskies makes it and who doesn't. With season openers a week away, there should be a lot of roster activity throughout the weekend.
HUSKY NFL TRACKER:
Trey Adams, OT, Buffalo Bills — undrafted free agent; released by Bills on Sept. 5.
Salvon Ahmed, RB, Miami Dolphins — undrafted free agent; released by San Francisco 49ers; signed by Miami; released by Dolpins on Sept. 5.
Andre Baccellia, WR, New England Patriots — undrafted free agent; released by Kansas City Chiefs; signed by New England; released by Patriots on Sept. 5.
Budda Baker, S, Arizona Cardinals — 3-year veteran, starter in 36 of 46 games.
Jake Browning, QB, Minnesota Vikings — practice squad player; released by Vikings on Sept. 5.
Hunter Bryant, TE, Detroit Lions — undrafted free agent.
Myles Bryant, CB, New England Patriots — undrafted free agent; released by Patriots on Sept. 5.
Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Seattle Seahawks — 1-year veteran, appeared in 16 games.
Darrell Daniels, TE, Arizona Cardinals — 3-year veteran, starter in 6 of 34 games.
Will Dissly, TE, Seattle Seahawks — 2-year veteran, starter in 10 of 10 games.
Jacob Eason, QB, Indianapolis Colts — 4th-round draft pick.
Jake Eldrenkamp, OG, Indianapolis Colts — undrafted free agent; released by Colts on Sept. 5.
Aaron Fuller, WR, Seattle Seahawks — undrafted free agent; released by Seahawks on Sept. 5.
Greg Gaines, DT, Los Angeles Rams — 1-year veteran, appeared in 10 games.
Myles Gaskin, RB, Miami Dolphins — 1-year veteran, appeared in 7 games.
Marvin Hall, WR, Detroit Lions — 3-year veteran, appeared in 33 games.
Nick Harris, C, Cleveland Browns — 5th-round draft pick.
Jared Hilbers, OT, New York Jets — undrafted free agent; released by Jets on Sept. 5.
Sidney Jones, CB, Philadelphia Eagles — 3-year veteran, started 8 of 22 games; released by Eagles on Sept. 5.
Senio Kelemente, OG, Houston Texans — 7-year veteran, started 37 of 74 games.
Kevin King, CB, Green Bay Packers — 3-year veteran, started 25 of 30 games.
Cory Littleton, LB, Las Vegas Raiders — 4-year veteran, started 37 of 64 games.
Kaleb McGary, OT, Atlanta Falcons — 1-year veteran, started 16 of 16 games.
Jaydon Mickens, WR, Tampa Bay Bucs — 3-year veteran, appeared in 17 games.
Jordan Miller, CB, Atlanta Falcons — 1-year veteran, appeared in 10 games; suspended by league for 4 games for violating PED policy.
Byron Murphy, CB, Arizona Cardinals — 1-year veteran, started 16 of 16 games.
Joshua Perkins, TE, Philadelphia Eagles — 3-year veteran, started 2 of 22 games.
Marcus Peters, CB, Baltimore Ravens — 5-year veteran, started 76 of 77 games.
Dante Pettis, WR, San Francisco 49ers — 2-year veteran, started 11 of 23 games.
Benning Potoa'e, DE, Tampa Bay Bucs — undrafted free agent; released by Bucs on Sept. 4.
Taylor Rapp, S, Los Angeles Rams — 1-year veteran, started 10 of 15 games.
John Ross, WR, Cincinnati Bengals — 3-year veteran, started 19 of 24 games.
Drew Sample, TE, Cincinnati Bengals — 1-year veteran, started 2 of 9 games.
Coleman Shelton, C, Los Angeles Rams — 1-year veteran, appeared in 11 games.
Danny Shelton, DT, Detroit Lions — 5 year veteran, started 60 of 75 games.
Shaq Thompson, LB, Carolina Panthers — 5-year veteran, started 61 of 70 games.
Desmond Trufant, CB, Detroit Lions — 7-year veteran, starter in 97 of 97 games.
Ezekiel Turner, S, Arizona Cardinals — 2-year veteran, starter in 1 of 28 games.
Vita Vea, DT, Tampa Bay Bucs — 2-year veteran, starter in 9 of 29 games.
Dwayne Washington, RB, New Orleans Saints — 4-year veteran, starter in 2 of 46 games; placed on COVID-19 reserve list.
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