NFL Roster Cuts 2026 Live Updates: Tracking the Biggest Releases, Waiver Claims and News Around the League

The weekend that was in the NFL is always one of the busiest on its cyclical calendar, as all 32 teams cut their rosters down from 90 to 53 players ahead of the 2026 season.

What this means is that, unfortunately, more than 1,100 players were released, waived or shelved with an injury designation. Some will end up on practice squads; others will be picked up by or sign with other teams, but for many, this marks the end of the road for their time in the NFL.

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As a result, there are likely to be plenty of surprising roster moves around the league in the coming days as teams either look to get younger or simply move on from players who aren’t in their future plans.

Here at Sports Illustrated, we’ll track all of the news, reports and notable releases around the NFL leading into Sunday afternoon. Follow along!

Seahawks signing CB Trevon Diggs to practice squad

Trevon Diggs is staying in Seattle.

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Seahawks are signing Diggs to their practice squad. He signed with the club last week but released during final roster cuts Sunday.

Raiders claim CB Darrell Luter Jr.

Waiver claims have begun being submitted, and the Raiders are using the No. 1 spot to their advantage.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Las Vegas is expected to claim cornerback Darrell Luter Jr., who spent the first three seasons of his career with the 49ers after being drafted in the fifth-round in 2023.

Aaron Donald is officially returning to the Rams

Aaron Donald is back.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Donald is coming out of retirement to sign a one-year, $20 million contract with the Rams. The deal includes incentives that could be worth up to $30 million.

Donald, 35, is an eight-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and helped Los Angeles win Super Bowl LVI in 2021. He originally retired after the 2023 season, but will now return to the Rams—alongside Myles Garrett on a stacked defensive line—as he looks to earn himself another championship ring.

Los Angeles must cut its roster down to 53 players before Sunday’s 6:00 p.m. ET deadline, and now has clarity that Donald will be on it.

Odell Beckham Jr. makes Giants’ initial 53-man roster

Odell Beckham is making the Giants’ initial 53-man roster, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

“Beckham proved he can get open + stay healthy this summer,” Raanan wrote on X. “Didn’t miss a practice after full year out of the league. John Harbaugh wanted Beckham to earn his roster spot. He did.”

Beckham re-signed with New York this offseason on a one-year deal after having spent the 2014–18 seasons with the club. The 33-year-old now remains in the Giants’ wide receiver room alongside Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney, among others.

Most notable players cut ahead of 2026 season

TE Justin Joly

In a bit of stunner, the Broncos are waiving rookie tight end Justin Joly ahead of Sunday’s roster deadline. 9NEWS’s Mike Klis was first to report the news. Denver selected Joly in the fifth-round of the 2026 NFL draft.

“He did struggle adjusting to [the] NFL in training camp and clearly he could use a redshirt year,” Klis wrote on X. “But his talent was obvious on [an] 88-yard catch-and-run TD Friday vs. Vikings. See if he clears waivers.”

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

MVS — The Cowboys are releasing Marquez Valdes-Scantling. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Cowboys are releasing veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Valdes-Scantling, 31, spent four seasons with the Packers after being drafted in the fifth round in 2018. He’s since spent time with the Chiefs, Bills, Saints, Seahawks, 49ers and Steelers—winning two Super Bowls with Kansas City.

QB Will Levis

The Titans are waiving quarterback Will Levis.

Levis, 27, was selected by Tennessee in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. He started 21 games over his first two seasons—going just 5–16—before missing the entirety of the 2025 season due to injury.

The Titans had been open to trading Levis for “some time,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “In the end,” he wrote on X, “Both sides move on.”

OL Wanya Morris

The Falcons are moving on from OT Wanya Morris just over two months after trading for him.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Daniel Flick, Atlanta is releasing the former third-round pick ahead of Sunday's final roster cuts.

LB Elandon Roberts

Veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts was released by the Steelers on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 32-year-old was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth-round in 2016 and spent four seasons there before logging stints with the Dolphins (2020 to ’22), Steelers (’23 to ’24) and Raiders (’25). Roberts returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal earlier this summer, but couldn’t crack the roster.

QB Jake Browning

After reports surfaced on Sunday morning that rookie Jalon Daniels had won the Buccaneers’ backup quarterback job, the team released veteran Jake Browning.

Browning had been battling with Daniels and Connor Bazelak for a spot in Tampa’s quarterback room behind Baker Mayfield.

QBs Cam Miller, Mark Gronowski

The Dolphins waived quarterbacks Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski on Sunday, just one day after trading Quinn Ewers to the Jaguars.

The moves leave Miami with only one quarterback, starter Malik Willis, on the roster. They’ll be in the market for a backup in the coming days.

DT Mazi Smith

The Jets are releasing former first-round pick Mazi Smith, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Smith was selected with the No. 26 pick in the 2023 draft by the Cowboys and spent his first 3.5 seasons in Dallas before being sent to New York at last year’s trade deadline in the Quinnen Williams deal. The 25-year-old has tallied 57 tackles and two sacks throughout the course of his career.

WR Mecole Hardman

Mecole Hardman is being released by the Bills ahead of the NFL’s roster cutdowns, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Hardman signed with Buffalo’s pracice squad last November after being released by the Packers, and boomeranged on and off their active roster for the season—catching a four-yard touchdown from Josh Allen in the team’s divisional round loss to the Broncos in January. A three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs, the 28-year-old pass-catcher is a vested veteran and is now free to sign with any club.

P Mitch Wishnowsky

The Bills informed veteran punter Mitch Wishnowsky that they plan to release him, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.

Wishnowsky, 34, spent the 2025 season in Buffalo, but has now lost the job to rookie seventh-round pick Tommy Doman Jr.

WR Cedric Tillman

The Browns began their roster cuts prior to their preseason finale against the Patriots on Thursday, waiving wide receiver Cedric Tillman.

Tillman, 26, was a third-round pick by Cleveland in 2023, and caught 71 passes for 833 yard and five touchdowns over three seasons. He was set to make $3.6 million in 2026—the final year of his rookie contract—and is now subject to waivers.

NFL roster cuts 2026 live updates

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