Tommy DeVito is the latest QB being released as teams must trim rosters to 53
By Canadian Press on August 26, 2025.
Tommy DeVito is among the quarterbacks looking for a new team.
The
New York Giants waived the local fan favorite on Tuesday as teams released more than 1,100 players before the deadline to trim rosters down to 53.
Elsewhere, Kyle Trask lost his job as Baker Mayfield’s backup in Tampa Bay after the team chose veteran Teddy Bridgewater to hold the No. 2 position. Tyler Huntley didn’t make the cut in Cleveland. The veteran QB joined the Browns earlier this month as the fifth QB behind veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett was traded to Las Vegas on Monday.
Desmond Ridder, who is 8-10 in his career as a starter, was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals. The Dallas Cowboys waived Will Grier.
The Atlanta Falcons released quarterback Easton Stick, the teamâs starter through the preseason as coach Raheem Morris protected starter Michael Penix Jr. and veteran backup Kirk Cousins. The release of Stick and Ben DiNucci temporarily leaves the team with only Penix and Cousins at the position.
Trevor Siemian, who is 15-18 in seven seasons, was cut by the Tennessee Titans, leaving Brandon Allen to back up No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.
Rookie sixth-round pick Kyle McCord didn’t make Philadelphia’s initial roster. The quarterback out of Syracuse is a candidate for the practice squad if another team doesn’t sign him. The defending Super Bowl champions acquired Sam Howell to back up Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee.
DeVito, an undrafted free agent and a northern New Jersey native who
picked up the nickname âTommy Cutlets,â was not expected to make the team after the signings of veterans
Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and
selection of Jaxson Dart in the first round.
Other notable cuts
Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, a 2021 Pro Bowl selection who was attempting to make a comeback after sitting out all of last season with a severe case of ulcerative colitis that
caused him to lose 35 pounds, was released by the Carolina Panthers. The team also cut former starting nose tackle Shy Tuttle after rebuilding its defensive line earlier this offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers released wideout Robert Woods, who has 863 receptions. Diontae Johnson (Browns), KJ Hamler (Bills) and Mecole Hardman (Packers) are among the wide receivers who were let go.
Veteran defensive back Jalen Mills was cut by the Houston Texans. Mills has started 91 games at cornerback and safety.
Worst part of the job
Ask any NFL coach the worst part of the job and the overwhelming response will be cutting players.
âIt rips at my heart. It does because if they were my son, I see them through that lens because my kids are getting older now and you see how hard they work and what they put into it and theyâve done everything that weâve asked,â Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott said. âThese guys are so grateful, theyâre so appreciative and full of class. Again, itâs hard from a football standpoint but even harder from a, âHey, these guys are good guys and theyâre winners,â (standpoint). Sometimes it doesnât last in football, right? But thatâs where you get a reminder that football isnât everything and life is whatâs most important. I told these guys theyâre going to be winners in life and thatâs ultimately what is most important.â
Teams that have several talented players competing for the same position end up with the toughest decisions. Itâs a welcome problem.
âWhen you become a good team, the cuts get harder,â Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. âWhen you donât have anything, you can keep everybody. The cuts become harder. Itâs always difficult because you donât want to be a guy to tell (someone) they canât play pro ball anymore. It doesnât mean itâs the end of the road, it just means itâs the end of the road here. Thatâs always tough when you have to tell someone that. I think any coach will tell you that same thing. (There are) always difficult decisions, but we understand that going in from a coachesâ and playersâ standpoint, and we make decisions we think will make us better and we move on from there.â
Teams can bring guys back on the practice squad if another team doesn’t claim them off waivers. Each team can have up to 16 players, including a maximum of six eligible veteran players with unlimited experience, on the practice squad. The remainder have to be players with two or fewer accrued seasons. Teams can also have one additional player from the International Player Pathway program.
Players can be signed off a practice squad to another teamâs active roster at any time.
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AP Sports Writers Charles Odum and Steve Reed, and AP Pro Football Writers Teresa M. Walker and Schuyler Dixon contributed.
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Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press
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