NFL teams cut Will Levis, Jaydon Blue

The NFL’s annual cutdown weekend produced two of its more notable moves on August 30, when the Tennessee Titans waived quarterback Will Levis and the Dallas Cowboys released running back Jaydon Blue as teams reduced rosters to the initial 53-man limit. The league’s deadline was 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, and teams can still reshape those rosters through waiver claims, injury moves and practice squad signings before Week 1. ### Why was Will Levis available at all? Will Levis, the No. 33 overall pick in the 2023 draft, was waived by Tennessee, according to NFL.com, citing NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The move ended Levis’ run with the Titans before the start of the 2026 regular season and put a recent high draft pick onto the waiver wire at quarterback, one of the league’s thinnest positions. (nfl.com) Tennessee’s decision came as the Titans moved forward with a different quarterback depth chart. Multiple roster-cut roundups listed Levis among the most surprising names released as clubs finalized their first regular-season rosters. ### How did Jaydon Blue get squeezed out in Dallas? Jaydon Blue, a fifth-round pick in 2025, was waived by Dallas after entering training camp as the No. 2 running back behind Javonte Williams, ESPN reported. (nfl.com) ESPN said Malik Davis won the position with a strong camp, while Israel Abanikanda and fullback Hunter Luepke also remained in the backfield mix after Blue and Phil Mafah were cut. Frisco, Texas, was the site of one of the weekend’s more surprising running back decisions because Blue had appeared to have a path to a roster spot earlier in camp. League-wide cut trackers and surprise-cut lists grouped him with other recognizable names released before the opener. ### How unusual were these cuts across the league? (espn.com) Sunday’s roster deadline affected nearly 1,200 players league-wide, CBS Sports reported, after the NFL held final cuts on a Sunday for the first time in 22 years. ESPN said all 32 teams had to be at 53 players by 6 p.m. ET, but clubs could keep making moves immediately afterward. (espn.com) USA Today said there were not many “shocking decisions” overall, but Levis stood out among the notable releases. CBS Sports separately ranked Levis and Blue among the top surprise cuts as teams closed out preseason evaluations. ### What does the undrafted rookie number show? A total of 48 undrafted rookies made initial 53-man rosters this year, according to NFLTradeRumors.co, down from 57 the previous year. (cbssports.com) The same roundup said Kansas City kept five undrafted free agents, while Chicago kept four and six teams kept none. That count gives a rough measure of how much room teams left for developmental players after camp and preseason. (usatoday.com) The figure can still change because initial 53-man rosters are often adjusted once waiver claims are processed and veterans are re-signed after corresponding moves. That is an inference based on how post-deadline transactions continue across the league. ### What happens next for Levis, Blue and the rest of the cut list? (nfltraderumors.co) Waiver activity continues in the days after the deadline, with released players either claimed by another team or becoming free agents depending on their status. NFL.com and ESPN both maintain transaction pages tracking claims, signings and other roster moves as teams set practice squads and adjust the back end of the 53. (nfl.com) The 2026 regular season opens on September 9 in Seattle, when the Seahawks host the Patriots, according to the NFL’s schedule release. Between now and then, Levis, Blue and other late-summer cuts will be available for claims, practice squad spots or new deals elsewhere. (media.nfl.com) (nfl.com)