NFL Notebook
NFL Cut-Down Day Notebook: September 5

Big day in the NFL as all teams need to get their rosters down to 53 players by 4 PM in advance of the 2020 season opener this coming weekend.
Steeler Now will keep you updated on all the notable cuts in this notebook.
UPDATE (4:04 PM)-
The Chiefs have wavied wide receiver Maurice Ffrench, per source.
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (3:50 PM)-
**Two former Pitt Panthers are released by Washington: WR Jester Weah and CB Ryan Lewis.
Official from WFT pic.twitter.com/LvcjdcdA3l
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (3:42 PM)-
Sources: The #Raiders are trading RB/returner Lynn Bowden Jr and a 6th rounder to the #Dolphins in exchange for a 4th round pick, the same pick Miami just got from Vegas. The versatile Bowden was a third-rounder this year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (3:39 PM)-
Raiders Cutting Veteran RB Theo Riddick https://t.co/ppQmY11Lw1
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (3:04 PM)-
Saints released veteran defensive lineman/linebacker Anthony Chickillo.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (1:54 PM)-
Texans cut former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, per a league source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (1:35 PM)-
Titans Release QB Trevor Siemian https://t.co/EqLdfPR2AU
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (1:20 PM)-
Seahawks Waiving LB Shaquem Griffin https://t.co/XEiJLjNFaH
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) September 5, 2020
The #Jaguars are cutting both backup QBs Mike Glennon and Josh Dobbs, source said. A surprise. So it’s starter Gardner Minshew and backup Jake Luton from Oregon State… for now. One could return after the 53-man roster shakes out.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (12:16 PM)-
The Chiefs have informed RB DeAndre Washington of his release, per source.
Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson are now projected back-ups to Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (12:11 PM)-
Falcons released former Minnesota first-round pick Laquon Treadwell, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2020
Patriots have released RB Lamar Miller, per ESPN.
— LeadingNFL (@LeadingNFL) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (11:03 AM)-
*Former Aliquippa and West Virginia star safety Dravon Askew-Henry is released by the NY Giants but he could be sticking with the team.
The Giants have released S Dravon Askew-Henry, though it sounds like he'll be one of the 16 returning to the practice squad.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (11:02 AM)-
In cut-down news, Washington is releasing TE Richard Rodgers, source said. His dad was also an assistant coach on the team.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (10:58 AM)-
Bengals Waiving QB Brandon Allen https://t.co/GWZxpVi1Pr
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (10:54 AM)-
Packers Cutting OLB Tim Williams https://t.co/c8zB6hmcYN
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (10:04 AM)-
The Washington Football Team plans to keep QB Alex Smith on its 53-man roster, per sources.
Smith still has a long way to go. But another amazing step in his journey back from a catastrophic leg injury.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 5, 2020
UPDATE (9:57 AM)-
Dolphins waiving QB Josh Rosen. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/1hF1ksJGTR
— NFL (@NFL) September 5, 2020
#Browns are releasing WR Taywan Taylor, per source.
— BrownsWave \: (@BrownsByBrad) September 5, 2020
First surprise cut of the morning: Washington released former starting safety Sean Davis, who it gave a $2 million signing bonus this off-season, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2020
NFL Notebook
Steelers Now NFL Notebook, Jan. 22

The Steelers Now Notebook is your go-to source for all the latest news and notes surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL.
🏈 2 p.m: Former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been ruled out of the NFC Championship Game, Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians announced on Friday. Brown suffered a knee injury in the Divisional Round win over New Orleans. In two playoff games, he has three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.

TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 13: Antonio Brown (81) of the Bucs runs with the ball after making a catch during the regular season game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 13, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)
🏈 8:30 a.m: The NFL will give free tickets to Super Bowl LV to 7,500 health care workers that have been vaccinated for COVID-19, the league announced on Friday.
Most of the 7,500 free tickets will be distributed to health care workers in the Tampa and central Florida areas, but all 32 NFL teams will be permitted to select vaccinated health care workers from their communities.
“These dedicated health care workers continue to put their own lives at risk to serve others, and we owe them our ongoing gratitude,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a press release. “We hope in a small way that this initiative will inspire our country and recognize these true American heroes. This is also an opportunity to promote the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices, including wearing masks in public settings.”
In addition to the vaccinated health care workers, the league plans to host 14,500 paid fans for the game at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7.
🏈 7:30 a.m: Former Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson died on Wednesday at the age of 68, and those around the NFL remembered the longtime Packers personnel man, including the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ted Thompson,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement. “Whether you were with him on the road scouting or competing against him in a Super Bowl setting, he was always the same gentleman who was genuine, friendly and supportive. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, his many friends and the entire Packers organization.”
Thompson’s Packers defeated Colbert’s Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas at the end of the 2010 season. Perhaps Thompson’s greatest accomplishment as Green Bay’s general manager was the drafting of quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2005.
Steelers linebacker Jayrone Elliott, who started his career in Green Bay as an undrafted free agent in 2014, also remembered Thompson.
“Thanks for taking a chance on me!” Elliott wrote on Twitter. “Prayers to your family and PackerNation!”
NFL Notebook
Steelers Now NFL Notebook, Jan. 21

The Steelers Now Notebook is your go-to source for all the latest news and notes surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL.
🏈 4:45 p.m: The Baltimore Ravens are losing another defensive assistant, as defensive line coach Joe Cullen has been hired by Urban Meyer to be the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the third Baltimore defensive assistant to depart this offseason, all to promotions. Linebackers coach Mike MacDonald left to be the new defensive coordinator at Michigan and defensive backs coach Jesse Minter will be the next defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt.
Defensive coordinator Don Martindale, passing defense coordinator Chris Hewitt and outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins are all that remain of the staff that led the Ravens to the No. 2 scoring defense in the NFL in 2020. Martindale interviewed for several head coaching opportunities, and remains in the mix for the last vacancy in Houston.
🏈 Noon: The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Twitter on Thursday the franchise will be debuting new uniforms this spring.
#NewStripes pic.twitter.com/toKSCxQfyG
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 21, 2021
Besides the league-wide switch from Reebok to Nike, the Bengals’ uniforms have basically gone unchanged for the last 17 seasons. As the franchise begins a new era led by quarterback Joe Burrow, it seems only fitting that Cincinnati would also overhaul their uniforms with a brand new design.
Cincinnati last debuted a new uniform set in 2016, when they debuted their current Color Rush alternates, which have become widely popular and a fan favorite.
NFL Notebook
Steelers Now NFL Notebook, Jan 19

The Steelers Notebook is your go-to source for all the latest news and notes surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL.
🏈 6:15 p.m: The latest mock draft from CBS Sports has the Steelers trading up in the first round to take a quarterback.
The mock 2021 NFL Draft posted on Tuesday by Ryan Wilson has the Steelers trading up with the Dallas Cowboys to get from the No. 24 pick in the first round to the No. 10 pick in order to select North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance.
Lance (6-foot-4, 226 pounds) came out for the draft after his sophomore season, and most of that was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the Bison playing just one game. In his NDSU career, Lance played in 19 games, throwing for 2,947 yards, 30 touchdowns and just one interception.
Wilson has the Cowboys taking South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn at No. 24.

FRISCO, TX: North Dakota State Bison quarterback Trey Lance (5) celebrates winning the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game between the North Dakota State Bison and the James Madison Dukes on January 11, 2020 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)
🏈 3:45 p.m:
Hall of Fame Selector Bill Polian Makes Case for Former Steelers Scout Bill Nunn
🏈 2:15 p.m: Quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges said farewell to Pittsburgh via social media on Tuesday, indicating that the former Steelers starter will not return to the team for 2021. The Steelers allowed Hodges’ contract to expire on Monday.
“Thankful for the opportunity and the ability to live out my dream,” Hodges wrote. “Nothing but love! QUACK!”
Filling after injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph in 2019, Hodges made an astonishing climb from rookie camp invitee to NFL starting quarterback. Hodges threw for 1,063 yards while completing 62.5% of his passes. He threw for five touchdowns and eight interceptions for a 71.4 quarterback rating. The Steelers went 3-3 in games Hodges started.
🏈 1:40 p.m: Country musician Eric Chuch and singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan will sing the national anthem before Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay, the NFL announced on Tuesday.
Church is a 10-time Grammy nominee, who had a No. 1 song in 2019 with “Some of it.” Sullivan has been nominated for a Grammy eight times and her most recent album, “Heaux Tales” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 on Jan. 8.
Additionally, R&B singer H.E.R. will sing America the Beautiful.
The pregame show will be broadcast live before Super Bowl LV on CBS.

🏈 1:10 p.m:
Steelers WR Chase Claypool Named to PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team
🏈 12:30 p.m:
Report: NFL Salary Cap Expected around $180 Million; Would Put Steelers $35 Million in Red
🏈 Noon:
PFF Tabs Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith as 2021 Breakout Candidate
🏈 11:25 a.m:
🏈 10:00 a.m:
NFL Cancels In-Person 2021 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis; Pro Days On