Burst bubble? Notable NFL players in danger of getting cut

As teams wrap up the final week of the NFL preseason this weekend, many face some tough decisions in the days after as they begin to trim their rosters and make their finals cuts by the Aug. 29 deadline.

Here are five notable players who could be among those final roster cuts:

Colt McCoy, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Once believed to be Arizona’s Week 1 starter with Kyler Murray still rehabbing his torn ACL, McCoy has had quite the fall from grace over the last month. Something has just looked off with the 36-year-old all summer, who’s been upstaged by rookie fifth-round pick Clayton Tune. The 24-year-old out of Houston has completed 25 of 47 passes for 268 yards, a touchdown and an interception through two preseason games and shown better command of Arizona’s offense.

The Cardinals also traded a 2024 fifth-rounder to the Cleveland Browns for Joshua Dobbs on Thursday, increasing the likelihood McCoy’s days as a Cardinal are numbered. Dobbs completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 411 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions last year while nearly leading the Tennessee Titans to the playoffs in Week 18.

La’el Collins, OT, Cincinnati Bengals

Despite signing a three-year deal with the Bengals last offseason, Orlando Brown Jr.’s arrival has made Collins expendable. The 30-year-old lineman played 951 snaps at right tackle last season, but his performances were erratic and he didn’t quite look like the player he was in Dallas the previous two years.

With Brown Jr., a four-time Pro Bowler, slotting in at left tackle, Jonah Williams, who requested to be traded after Brown Jr. signed, has looked much better after transitioning to right tackle. He’s impressed so much, in fact, that Brown Jr. recently stated Williams has been the team’s MVP in camp.

Jourdan Lewis, CB, Dallas Cowboys

Lewis has been a solid depth cornerback for the Cowboys over the last six seasons, but he was limited to just six appearances last year — and DaRon Bland filled in admirably after taking over Lewis’ spot in nickel packages. Plus, the Cowboys have 10 other cornerbacks currently on their roster, and they added former All-Pro Stephon Gilmore in the offseason.

The 27-year-old Lewis is still recovering from a Lisfranc injury that could sideline him for the first few weeks of the season, and Dallas could free up approximately $4.7 million in cap space by cutting him. 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

After 181 carries as a rookie in 2020, Edwards-Helaire has just 190 carries combined over the last two years while struggling with injuries and inconsistency. He’s only 24 and a former first-round pick, so Kansas City may not want to give up on him just yet, but after Isiah Pacheco’s impressive rookie year (830 rushing yards, 4.9 yards per carry average, five touchdowns), Jerick McKinnon proving to be a reliable No. 2 back and La’Mical Perine also in the mix, Edwards-Helaire could find himself looking for a new employer.

Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants

The Giants simply have too many receivers and not enough roster spots, and Shepard will likely fall victim to a numbers game. Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell, Isaiah Hodgins, rookie third-round pick Jalin Hyatt and Wan’dale Robinson all figure to be locks for the 53-man roster, leaving Shepard, Cole Beasley, Jamison Crowder, David Sills, Jaydon Mickens, Collin Johnson, Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Kalil Pimpleton on the outside looking in.

Shepard had a decent seven-year run in New York, totaling 362 receptions, 4,038 yards and 22 touchdowns, but he’s being passed up on the depth chart by younger, faster and more talented wideouts.