A few quick-hitters as teams start cutting down to 75 teams. There are a few moves in here that might affect a last-round pick in a fantasy draft.
Buffalo cuts Fred Jackson. Jackson is 34, but he can still play. He had a 41-yard run against Pittsburgh on Saturday. This move is likely a courtesy to the 3rd-leading rusher in franchise history (behind O.J. Simpson and Thurman Thomas). It gives Jackson a better chance of latching on with another team. The Cowboys, in my opinion, need to add another tailback. They don’t have enough with just McFadden and Randle. And Jackson would be an intriguing fit down there. The Bills have some other capable backup running backs behind LeSean McCoy, including Karlos Williams, Boobie Dixon and Bryce Brown.
Steelers trade for Josh Scobee. Thank you, Garrett Hartley. Been nice knowing you. And welcome to the NFL, Jason Myers (the new Jacksonville kicker).
Bengals cut Denarius Moore. Seemed like a talented guy at times in Oakland, but it just never quite happened for him.
Bucs trade Tim Wright. Again. They traded him to New England last year, and he won a ring. This time they’ve traded him to Detroit for Kyle Brindza. Brindza was having a good camp; I thought he was going to unseat Matt Prater. But Prater now looks safe, and Brindza joins the crowded three-man battle for the Tampa Bay kicking job, battling Connor Barth and Patrick Murray. For the Lions, Tim Wright won’t necessarily make the roster, but it makes me wonder how much confidence they have in Eric Ebron and Joseph Fauria. Wright is the same kind of tight end – a pass catcher without much interest in blocking.
The Bills have named Tyrod Taylor their starting quarterback. That’s a surprise to nobody. Taylor has played really well this August.
Detroit cut Ryan Broyles. Injuries stopped him from every quite getting over the hump.
Jay Gruden says Kirk Cousins will start on opening day, and that it’s a permanent change. Cousins has just been better than Robert Griffin III, he says, and who can argue? RG3 doesn’t seem to be able to run that offense. He’s also got the weird contract deal, with his 2016 base salary being guaranteed against injury, so Washington could be very nervous to put RG3 on the field at all this year.
—Ian Allan