NFL's Biggest Rumors and Latest Buzz Ahead of 2026 Roster Cuts Deadline

NFL coaches have enough game film and training camp practice evaluations to make key roster decisions before the August 30 cutdown deadline. It's going to be a busy week.  

While some players continue to battle for roster spots in the final week of the preseason, coaches will be in their offices looking over the dynamics of prospective depth charts for the regular season.

To get an idea of what could happen in the coming days, let's check in with the latest buzz on potential cuts, trades and roster news.

Who are the notable veterans on the roster bubble? Who might be on the trade block? What are some team concerns ahead of Week 1?

Bills' Notable Free-Agent Acquisitions Are on the Roster Bubble

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Mike Danna

The Buffalo Bills signed safety Geno Stone and outside linebacker Mike Danna to one-year deals. They've both held starting roles over the last few years with their previous teams.

With the Kansas City Chiefs, Danna worked his way into a lead position at defensive end. Stone earned a first-string role with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and started in every game with the Cincinnati Bengals between 2024 and 2025. 

But the Bills have a stacked roster. Consequently, Stone and Danna are cut candidates ahead of the deadline.

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia explained why he left Danna off his latest Bills 53-man roster projection:

"Mike Danna, an early May signing, has over $1 million guaranteed on his one-year deal, but he's faded into the background in the outside linebacker group. With investments in Hoecht, Parker a roster lock and Solomon as one of their best special teams assets, I've got Danna on the outside of this projection."

Buscaglia believes the Bills could make a decision between Damar Hamlin and Stone at safety, with the former having a slight edge in a battle for one spot.

"While I still have the Bills keeping five safeties, I've switched Hamlin onto the 53-man roster and Stone on the outside looking in," Buscaglia wrote. "Between the two, I think Hamlin has been the more consistent player."  

As former starters still younger than 30, Danna and Stone will likely land with new teams before Week 1 if the Bills cut them.

Bengals Might Add Help at Offensive Tackle

AP Photo/Emilee Chinn

Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Cody Ford

The Cincinnati Bengals haven't settled on a primary swing tackle. 

After last Saturday's preseason game against the Chicago Bears, head coach Zac Taylor shared his thoughts on the position via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"I think that's still pretty open," Taylor said. "I think there's guys we're still looking at and I wouldn't say there's any decisions we've made there." 

Conway believes the Bengals could be in the market for an offensive tackle after final roster cuts, and it could impact Cody Ford's standing on the depth chart:

"The Bengals could very well be in the market for a reserve tackle over the next few weeks when roster cuts begin around the NFL. It's unlikely the Bengals will move on from Ford ahead of the season because of his experience in the offense, but this doesn't mean if the pro personnel department finds a better option, he wouldn't lose his spot." 

Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims are the Bengals' starting tackles on the left and right side, respectively. They both started in every game last season but struggled in pass protection.

According to Pro Football Focus, Brown allowed nine sacks over 733 pass-blocking snaps, and Mims allowed 35 pressures over 694 pass-blocking snaps.

The Bengals aren't at a point of benching either of them, but they need reliable reinforcements to protect quarterback Joe Burrow if injuries and/or further decline in performance cost the starters playing time.

Browns Will Name a Starting Quarterback on Monday

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Deshaun Watson (4) and Shedeur Sanders (2)

At some point on Monday, Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken will name his starting quarterback between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson.

Watson had a better showing in the Browns' preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, but Sanders had the best overall performance between the two, going 9-of-11 passing for 74 yards, a touchdown and an interception on Saturday.

Yes, Sanders threw an interception in both games, but his second one on Saturday bounced off tight end Jermaine Terry's hands before safety Damar Hamlin secured the takeaway. He didn't make a perfect throw, but it was a catchable ball.

Watson was booed by Browns fans on Saturday, but Monken told reporters he won't let that influence his decision.

Cleveland still has a lot invested in Watson, who's entering the final year of a fully guaranteed contract. Yet the coaching staff should consider Sanders' development over the offseason and his potential room for growth through a full campaign.

Browns TE Dae'Quan Wright Could Become First NFL Player to Return to College

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Tight end Dae'Quan Wright

Dae'Quan Wright could be the first to return to the college ranks after an offseason in the NFL.

This year, Wright went undrafted and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who waived him on August 10. The Cleveland Browns claimed him, then waived the 22-year-old on Sunday.

Wright's agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln, told ESPN's Adam Schefter that their client has an agreement to play at LSU for the 2026 term. 

Wright dressed for the Browns' second preseason game, but he didn't play a snap. After the contest, head coach Todd Monken briefly discussed the situation around the rookie tight end.

"Man, isn't this s--t crazy?" Monken said Saturday. "I don't even know what to say. I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out to me a week ago; now I know. I didn't call him back. I guess I should have."

Going forward, we could see more undrafted rookies follow the same pathway as Wright if they're unable to secure roster spots.

Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty Is Nursing a Sprained Ankle

AP Foto/David Becker

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty sprained his ankle at practice on Sunday.

The Athletic's Sam Warren provided context to the incident in a post on X:

"Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty left practice early today with an apparent injury. He dove for a ball that was beyond him during team period and went down awkwardly. He was helped off the field by trainers, unable to put weight on his right leg and he did not return." 

Warren also noted rookie fourth-rounder Mike Washington Jr. picked up most of the carries in Jeanty's absence.

With a strong showing at camp and two productive preseason outings, logging 15 carries for 119 yards, Washington has likely earned more touches regardless of Jeanty's status.

Though Jeanty avoided a significant injury, his return timetable remains unclear. The Raiders may ask a little more of Washington if their lead ball-carrier is sidelined for the start of the regular season. They could also add to the running back room to strengthen a backfield platoon.

J.J. McCarthy May Fall to QB3 on Vikings Depth Chart, Trade Questions Brewing

AP Photo/Adam Bettcher

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings declared Kyler Murray their starter over J.J. McCarthy early in a quarterback competition.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters that McCarthy still has a "future with the organization" via ESPN's Kevin Seifert. But the third-year signal-caller's short-term outlook is uncertain.

During an ESPN SportsCenter segment (h/t X user @realmnsportsfan), Jeremy Fowler suggested McCarthy may not even be Murray's primary backup and brought up the possibility of a trade.

"Is he QB2 in Minnesota or is he QB3? Because they do have Carson Wentz," Fowler said. "So, could the Minnesota Vikings field a few trade calls? A lot could happen. They have to decide what McCarthy's role is on the team." 

After completing 57.6 percent of his passes last season, McCarthy has struggled with his accuracy and ball placement in the preseason. In his last outing against the Baltimore Ravens, he threw a pinpoint 50-yard laser to wideout Tai Felton but failed to connect with wideout Myles Price on a wide-open throw to the end zone and finished with a 50 percent completion rate.

McCarthy's standing on Minnesota's depth chart would become more uncertain if the Vikings list Wentz as their No. 2 quarterback.

Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Blunt About Lack of Roster Depth

AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel

NFL teams need reliable backups who can fill in for banged-up starters. In many cases, the healthiest top clubs make deep playoff runs.

Head coach Mike Vrabel gave an honest assessment of his roster's depth and why it was important to protect his starters in the preseason via ESPN's Mike Reiss.

"I do not think we have a very deep team, so I think we have to make sure that we are preparing our football team and that we are doing everything that we can to keep our best players available," Vrabel said. 

Coming off a Super Bowl loss, New England bolstered its starting unit, adding wideouts A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones and safety Kevin Byard, but the roster still lacks experienced reinforcements outside of the wide receiver and offensive line groups.

If the Patriots have to work around a rash of injuries, it could be a major issue late in the upcoming season. They may be one of the more active teams in acquiring players after roster cuts.

Steelers Might Retain 4 Quarterbacks on 53-Man Roster

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Mason Rudolph (2), Drew Allar (16), Aaron Rodgers (8), and Will Howard (18).

The Pittsburgh Steelers may hoard quarterback talent and retain all four of their signal-callers.

Mason Rudolph didn't play in the second preseason game, which is an indication that he's Aaron Rodgers' primary backup, unless the team trades him. 

Drew Allar had an impressive preseason debut, going 10-of-13 passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns with a rushing score, but he completed less than 50 percent of his passes last week in a 17-0 loss to the New York Jets. Will Howard struggled in the previous outing, throwing two interceptions.

Allar and Howard probably aren't ready for fill-in duty if Rodgers goes down with an injury, which is why Pittsburgh should keep Rudolph. 

ESPN's Brooke Pryor believes the Steelers might trim their offensive line or safeties groups to keep four quarterbacks:

"Unless the Steelers try to sneak Howard through on the practice squad, it seems more and more likely that they'll keep four quarterbacks, and that would mean numbers have to be reduced somewhere else on the roster. Two potential groups to watch are the offensive linemen and safeties because of the position flexibility of veterans such as Brock Hoffman and Jalen Ramsey." 

If the Steelers expose one of their signal-callers to waivers, Howard is the name to watch ahead of the roster cuts deadline.

Howard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft, spent most of his rookie year recovering from a fractured pinky on his throwing hand.

As a rookie third-rounder who's shown some flashes, Allar should be a priority developmental project for the future.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.