Saturday 3 September 2016 21:53, UK
The Baltimore Ravens sprung a surprise by releasing running back Justin Forsett on the final day for rosters to be trimmed to 53 players.
Forsett has been a starter during his two seasons with the franchise and, although there was pressure for that role in the off-season, was expected to continue to take the majority of rushing snaps.
But the 30-year-old was one of hundreds of players to be cut on Saturday as the league's 32 teams brought their rosters down from 75 to the 53 players they will start the 2016 season with when week one kicks off on Thursday.
He may well have found himself the odd man out because of Terrance West's strong preseason - West could start in week one with impressive rookie Kenneth Dixon set to miss the first month of the season with an ankle injury.
Forsett was not the only high-profile name released on Saturday with the Denver Broncos saying goodbye to quarterback Mark Sanchez after failing to find a trade partner for him.
Sanchez had been traded to the Broncos by the Philadelphia Eagles in March for a conditional draft pick with the intention of being their starter, but he was beaten out for that role by Trevor Siemian.
He had been linked with a trade to the Minnesota Vikings, who lost Teddy Bridgewater for the season earlier in the week, but they instead traded with the Eagles for Sam Bradford.
But Sanchez has already found a new home after agreeing to a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, where he will most likely back up rookie Dak Prescott while Tony Romo is recovering from a back injury.
Running back Stevan Ridley has been released by the Indianapolis Colts a week after he was signed as a free agent.
And the New York Jets have cut ties with two recent high draft picks in cornerback Dee Milliner, selected ninth overall in 2013, and tight end Jace Amaro who was a second-round pick in 2014.
Among other reasonably well-known players looking for a new employer are Buffalo linebacker Manny Lawson, Cleveland wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, British lineman Lawrence Okoye, who was playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, Tennessee running back Bishop Sankey and Minnesota's German receiver Moritz Boehringer, who was the first European player drafted without playing college football back in May.
