NFL cuts tracker: Tracking the Buccaneers roster cuts for 2017

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are done with the preseason and cutting down their roster to 53 men for the regular season. That has to be done by 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, but they’ve already started making the 37 necessary cuts to get there.

The amount of cuts is higher than usual this year: the NFL scrapped the earlier roster cuts deadline, instead making teams cut from 90 players to 53 in one fell swoop. That’s probably part of why you’ll see most cuts coming in today.

NFL teams traditionally try to save their most difficult cuts for Saturday, hoping to sneak those players onto the practice squad—players have to be cut from the 53-man roster to get one of the 10 practice squad spots. That tactic never works, but that doesn’t stop teams from trying.

Another thing to keep in mind: we call these ‘final’ roster cuts, but the roster will be tweaked throughout the regular season—starting as early as tomorrow, when the Bucs will get a chance to pick up players they like who were cut by other teams.

2017 Buccaneers roster cuts tracker

4:41 p.m.: The Bucs released longsnapper Garrison Sanborn, per Auman, after cutting Andrew DePaola yesterday. Which leaves them with no longsnappers right now—though it also gives them two players they could re-sign tomorrow, after some other (administrative) roster moves.

4:33 p.m.: The Bucs have waived WR Freddie Martino, per Greg Auman, which means Bernard Reedy has almost certainly made the roster.

12:20 p.m.: Another round of cuts: linebacker Riley Bullough, via Adam Schefter. Running back Jeremy McNichols, via Mike Garafolo. safety Marqueston Huff, per Greg Auman. Fullback/tight end Austin Johnson, again per Auman. OL Korren Kirvin, via Auman. WR Donteea Dye, via his agent. WR Josh Huff, via Aaron Wilson. And the team told Canadian tight end Antony Auclair that he made the initial 53-man roster, per Auman.

9:35 a.m.: Another one from Auman: DE Sterling Bailey is gone.

9:27 a.m.: Two more cuts: OL Mike Liedtke is cut but will be signed to the practice squad, if he passes through waivers, per his agent, while Greg Auman reports DL Tavaris Barnes will be cut.

Saturday, 8:54 a.m.: The Bucs are back cutting players today, with running back Russell Hansbrough the first casualty, per Greg Auman (again).

Friday, 6:32 p.m.: Greg Auman reports cornerback Jonathan Moxey is gone.

4:24 p.m.: Three more moves: DE DaVonte Lambert and DT Stevie Tui’kolovatu go on injured reserve, while the team also cut longsnapper Andrew DePaola.

3:23 p.m.: Quarterback Sefo Liufau will be waived with an injured designation after suffering an injury last night, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.

2:11 p.m.: The Bucs cut kicker Zach Hocker, so Nick Folk is now their kicker.

1:02 p.m.: Per Greg Auman, the Bucs have also cut cornerback Mariel Cooper and linebacker Richie Brown.

1 :00 p.m.: So far, the Bucs have cut a number of players with relatively high profiles, though all of them are backups. Defensive end George Johnson, center Josh Allen, tight end Tevin Westbrook, defensive end Mehdi Abdesmad and wide receiver Shaq Hill were all cut, per the Tampa Bay Times. Any one of those five players could make the practice squad.