The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cuts include 2018 No. 10 overall pick Rosen
Josh Rosen’s time with the Miami Dolphins has come to an unceremonious end.
The Dolphins released Rosen, the former No. 10 overall pick in 2018, after three starts in one season with the team and attempted to unload him in the trade market.
Now, after making one of the most high-profile cuts in the NFL on Saturday, the Dolphins could find themselves in a compromising scenario without Rosen in the mix.
Is rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — 10 months removed from his gruesome hip injury — ready for live NFL action as early as Week 1? If anything injuryor COVID-19-related happens to 16-year veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick with Rosen released, the Dolphins could face a situation where Tagovailoa may have to make his NFL debut earlier than anticipated.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores said no decisions have been made on Tagovailoa’s availability for the season opener against the New England Patriots on Sept. 13 in Foxborough. Miami also traded for versatile rookie Lynn Bowden Jr. It also got a sixth-round draft pick from the Raiders for a fourth-round choice. Bowden can play running back or receiver, and also played quarterback at Kentucky.
NFL teams had till 4 p.m. Saturday to cut their rosters to 53. The theory that teams would go with three quarterbacks to start the pandemic-impacted season took a hit. Lots of third-stringers were sent packing.
Another former first-round quarterback sent packing was Paxton Lynch, who was cut by Pittsburgh. Lynch, taken 26th overall by Denver in 2016, signed with Pittsburgh in October. Lynch’s size and pedigree intrigued the Steelers but he was unable to beat out Devlin “Duck” Hodges to serve as the third quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph. There is a chance Lynch sticks around as a member of the practice squad if he is not claimed by another team.
Other quarterbacks released were Cooper Rush and Alex Tanney of the Giants; Chad Kelly of the Colts; and David Fales and Mike White of the Jets, who said veteran Joe Flacco passed his physical after neck surgery and will be the backup.
But one of the biggest stories of the day was a quarterback who didn’t get cut. Alex Smith made Washington’s initial roster, another significant step in his remarkable comeback 22 months since breaking his right leg.
Coach Ron Rivera said the veteran quarterback is on the team and there’s no plan to put Smith on injured reserve in the coming days. Smith might even be Dwayne Haskins’ backup in the season opener Sept. 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith’s career appeared to be in jeopardy when he broke his right tibia and fibula while being tackled during a game in November 2018. He underwent 17 surgeries to repair that damage, survived a life-threatening infection and was hospitalized for more than a month.
Now, he’s running the second team in 11-on-11 drills in practice after being fully cleared for football activities and contact in August. Rivera said Smith hasn’t gotten hit by teammates in practice, which is the norm for quarterbacks, but that the 36-year-old looks prepared for contact that would come his way if he got into another NFL game.
Smith making the team means Washington has three quarterbacks, though his progress could mean Kyle Allen is No. 3 on the depth chart.
Another heartwarming story: Star-crossed tight end Jake Butt made the Broncos after overcoming his sixth knee operation. In three seasons in Denver, the ex-Michigan star has played in as many games (three) as he’s had major knee surgeries, each of which required a cleanup procedure.
“If you’ve been through an ACL you know how hard one is. When you go through three, it means a lot to get that recognition from your comrades, your teachers, your coaches,” Butt said recently. “But for me, I’m healthy. It’s part of my story but I’m out there, I’m out there playing ball, I’m not looking back.”
One of the bigger surprises of the cut downs came Friday, when Washington released running back Adrian Peterson. On The team followed that with another shocker, axing safety Sean Davis, a free agent signing in March.
Carolina was among the teams that kept three quarterbacks: starter Teddy Bridgewater, Will Grier and P.J. Walker. The Panthers waived running back Reggie Bonnafon, who ran for 116 yards with a touchdown in 16 games last year and played a major role on special teams.
Carolina is likely to make more moves in the coming days to upgrade the roster. The Panthers kept only two tight ends on the roster — Ian Thomas and Chris Manhertz — and Thomas is dealing with a toe injury.
In New England, after so much scrutiny on the quarterback position this offseason, the biggest surprise on cutdown day came at kicker. The Patriots released both veteran Nick Folk and rookie fifth-round draft pick Justin Rohrwasser, for now leaving the position open.
The L.A. Rams cut their roster to 52, indicating they plan to do some shopping among other teams’ cuts. Their cuts included defensive back Donte Deayon, the personable veteran who got plenty of air time in the current season of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” The season opens Thursday night with Houston at Super Bowl champion Kansas City. The Chiefs appear content to defend their Super Bowl title largely with the team that won it.