After cut day, NFL Jayhawks split between roster spots, IR, practice squads and free agency

Posted on August 29, 2024 by angelo

After cut day, NFL Jayhawks split between roster spots, IR, practice squads and free agency

AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez

Washington Commanders defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong, center, practices drills as head coach Dan Quinn, right, looks on during an NFL football practice at the team’s practice facility in Ashburn, Va., Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

Four professional football players who finished their college careers at Kansas have been added to NFL rosters, two others are on injured reserve and at least one has joined a practice squad ahead of the 2024 season.

Veterans Dorance Armstrong and Steven Sims and rookies Austin Booker and Dominick Puni were all safe on 53-man rosters after Tuesday’s cut deadline, while offensive linemen Hakeem Adeniji and Earl Bostick Jr. were sidelined with injuries midway through the preseason.

Undrafted rookie quarterback Jason Bean became the first Jayhawk to sign with a practice squad this year when he joined the Indianapolis Colts on Monday morning, according to his agent Brett Tessler.

Armstrong, who continues to carve out one of the most successful NFL careers of any recent Jayhawk, signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Washington Commanders this offseason. The move to the NFC East follows six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, most recently a 7.5-sack campaign in 2023.

According to Pro Football Focus, Armstrong played 16 snaps in two preseason games with a quarterback hurry and is expected to start for Washington this season.

Sims, a former undrafted free agent signed by Washington in 2019, had five receptions for 64 yards on 10 targets in his final preseason stint with the Houston Texans, but his most notable role may have been as a returner on the NFL’s first-ever redesigned kickoff. He’ll continue to provide value on special teams after returning a punt for a touchdown in last season’s playoffs.

Booker, a fifth-round pick, cemented his roster spot as a backup defensive end for the Chicago Bears in spectacular fashion, with 2.5 sacks in a dominant preseason performance against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the preseason. Meanwhile, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Puni, who picked up where he left off at KU by allowing no sacks in 58 pass-blocking snaps, is poised to start as a third-round rookie. The path has been paved by injuries to the 49ers’ most experienced options at right guard.

Bean, a preseason favorite, completed 15 of 19 passes for 197 yards with a touchdown and an interception and scored twice more on the ground, endearing himself to Colts fans. Although he was initially cut as part of the Colts’ roster cuts, he has since rejoined the team’s practice squad.

Offensive tackle Adeniji, now with the Cleveland Browns, injured his knee in a preseason game against his last team, the Minnesota Vikings, on Aug. 17 and was placed on injured reserve two days later. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters he would be out “for a little while.” Adeniji previously played three years with the Browns’ division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals.

One of Adeniji’s successors at KU’s starting tackle position, Bostick, was also placed on injured reserve after playing 55 snaps in the Dallas Cowboys’ first preseason game. Bostick injured his leg during Dallas’ practice on Aug. 14, and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters the next day that he would return to Dallas for surgery.

The rest of KU’s former star players in NFL training camps missed the 53-man roster cuts entirely, though several were released even earlier than Tuesday’s cut deadline.

Rookie center Mike Novitsky was released by the Seattle Seahawks on August 5; the Los Angeles Rams waived safety Kenny Logan Jr. the following day. Neither player signed, though Novitsky reportedly worked out for the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.

The Cincinnati Bengals released third-year receiver Kwamie Lassiter II on Friday after he caught eight passes for 47 yards between the Bengals’ first two preseason games. Lassiter had his first career regular-season reception last year at Arizona, where his late father played, in a game in which he was a captain and after which he was given a game ball.

Bean’s two-time teammate Craig Young was also let go Tuesday, as was another former KU linebacker, Kyron Johnson, who was trying to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second season after starting his career in Philadelphia. Tight end Mason Fairchild left the New Orleans Saints for the second time this month amid roster cuts.

This story will be updated.

AP Photo/Matt Freed

Houston Texans wide receiver Steven Sims (82) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Pittsburgh.

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Austin Booker (94) runs past Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Wanya Morris (64) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo.

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

San Francisco 49ers guard Dominick Puni (77) lines up during an NFL preseason football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Raiders and 49ers finished tied 24-24.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Earl Bostick Jr. celebrates a score against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a preseason football game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Owen Porter (57) looks to pass Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) during an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.

AP Photo/Emilee Chinn

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jason Bean (8) carries the ball during an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati.