2025 NFL Roster Cuts: Chiefs lock in final 53, Bears, Patriots, and Eagles lead Sunday shuffle before deadline

NFL teams are racing against the clock to finalize their 53-man rosters ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. With the preseason officially wrapped, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Chicago Bears have already started making major moves, trades, waivers, and tough releases, as they trim down from 90 players.Rosters must be reduced to 53 by Aug. 26, with practice squads to follow by Wednesday. Players with fewer than four accrued seasons will be subject to the waiver wire, while veterans are released outright and hit free agency. Teams can also use tools like injured reserve, reserve/PUP, and NFI lists to meet cut requirements without outright dropping players.Here’s what you need to know about key cuts, trades, and projected rosters from the NFL’s biggest names before the transaction window closes.

Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man roster: Robert Tonyan, Gardner Minshew among notables

Kansas City is expected to field one of the most stable rosters in the league, but even so, familiar names could be on the outside looking in. The Chiefs will likely carry two quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew, with Chris Oladokun set for the practice squad.Running back Isiah Pacheco is healthy and back in RB1 shape, while rookie Brashard Smith earned first-team snaps in the preseason finale and could leapfrog into a secure role.

Veterans like Elijah Mitchell may not survive the cut.Among wide receivers, Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown, and rookie Xavier Worthy headline a crowded group. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton are projected to stick, while Jalen Royals and Nikko Remigio are battling injuries and special teams roles.Tight end Robert Tonyan led the team in preseason receiving yards (90), making a strong case for a roster spot behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray.

Jared Wiley may hit injured reserve, depending on his knee recovery.On defense, Chris Jones anchors the interior line, with veteran Derrick Nnadi rejoining the team after a short stint with the Jets. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick in 2023, is out for the year with a hamstring injury, opening space for Malik Herring or a potential waiver addition.Linebacker Cooper McDonald, a rookie tryout, has pushed into contention after impressing in camp.

In the secondary, the absence of Joshua Williams from key reps suggests he could be cut, while Chris Roland-Wallace and Nazeeh Johnson look secure.

Trades, waivers, and surprise cuts: Eagles, Bears, Cowboys make key moves

The Philadelphia Eagles made headlines on Sunday by completing three trades, starting with acquiring quarterback Sam Howell from the Minnesota Vikings. As per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles also sent Darian Kinnard to Green Bay and brought back offensive tackle Fred Johnson from Jacksonville.In Cleveland, Shedeur Sanders remains buried on the depth chart and has seen four offensive linemen from his unit waived, including Javion Cohen and Sebastian Gutierrez, as per the Browns' official website.Shilo Sanders was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following an ejection for punching Bills tight end Zach Davidson in a preseason matchup. The altercation likely sealed his fate, despite flashes of promise earlier in camp.The Chicago Bears are also deep into cut territory. Offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie, a former third-round pick, appears to have been leapfrogged on the depth chart by rookie Theo Benedet. Running backs Brittain Brown and Ian Wheeler were productive in the preseason but are expected to miss the 53 due to depth and special teams priorities.Wide receiver Maurice Alexander showed solid preseason numbers but may be edged out by undrafted rookie Jahdae Walker.

Veteran Devin Duvernay is expected to secure a roster spot as a return specialist.In New England, pass-rusher Anfernee Jennings is viewed as a likely trade candidate. As per ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, “Jennings is a stout run defender on the edge… I like him as a fit in Detroit.” The Patriots have already cut 15 players, including Micah Bernard, Monty Rice, Jaheim Bell, and Sidy Sow.The Jacksonville Jaguars, currently fifth in waiver priority, traded Fred Johnson to Philadelphia and now hold 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Rookie Wyatt Milum and swing tackle Cole Van Lanen remain injury questions heading into final cuts.