We have had two and a half weeks of action since my previous training camp roster projection. Since then, training camp has started and I think we all have a better grasp at which players are serious contenders to make the final roster. I didn't post a practice squad last time, but I'll indicate a few hopefuls this time around. There will probably be two more roster projections in the next couple of weeks before the final 53-man roster is unveiled.
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Players already gone: OG Billy Yates (retired), DL Broderick Bunkley (trade cancelled), P Reggie Hodges (injured reserve), LB Alex Wujciak (cut), LB Derrick Addai.
The above list contains 53 players that I kept, and 35 players that I cut. My practice squad only contains six players, meaning two players would come from other team's cuts. Listed below is what has changed since the last time. Any position not listed did not have any changes.
General Roster Projection Notes
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Running Back: No changes. RB Armond Smith makes the practice squad due to his speed and the reps he's received as a kick returner.
- Wide Receiver: I added WR Jordan Norwood to the final roster, since it seems clear the team is utilizing him with the first-team offense, at least while Massaquoi is still out. For the practice squad, I think L.J. Castile makes it because he has shown some good hands at camp. I also put Johnathan Haggerty on their for the second year in a row, although he hasn't had as much time to shine in camp this year.
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Offensive Line: I was originally going to add OT Branndon Braxton to the list and just remove OL Steve Vallos. Braxton has been the primary backup offensive tackle in camp and has received some good reviews. I was forced to retain Vallos after OG Billy Yates retired though since Vallos has some experience playing center.
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Defensive Line: This is where all of the big changes happened. First, I made sure DE Marcus Benard was listed as a defensive end this time. After that, I added DL Derreck Robinson and DT Travis Ivey were added to the list. Robinson wasn't on the roster yet when I made the previous list, and with Ivey, he adds more depth at tackle after the Broderick Bunkley trade went bad. The three defensive linemen I removed were Bunkley, DT Scott Paxson, and DE Brian Sanford. Between Sanford and Ivey, it was a coin flip.
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Linebacker: Since he is getting reps with the first-team defense, I added undrafted free agent LB Brian Smith to the final roster, though I'm not convinced we won't sign a veteran and put Smith on the practice squad when it's all said and done. In exchange, LB Steve Octavien was cut. I also put LB Benjamin Jacobs on the practice squad to have someone to develop.
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Safety: No changes. Newly-signed S Brian Smith was put on the practice squad due to his previous affiliation with Dick Jauron and Pat Shurmur.
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Cornerback: There were two additions and two subtractions here. Added to the list were Dimitri Patterson, who looks to be the nickel back, and James Dockery, who has made a lot of plays in camp and is now being considered a hybrid cornerback/safety. I reluctantly removed Coye Francies, but I think he can still be put on the practice squad. DeAngelo Smith was my previous hybrid player, but he was replaced by Dockery.
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Special Teams: With P Reggie Hodges going on the injured reserve, in comes P Richmond McGee.
Feel free to share your own updated roster projections here, or some changes you would make to mine.