2020 Cutdown Day Tracker: NFL Rosters Include 57 Former Alabama Crimson Tide Players

BamaCentral will keep up with the latest roster moves concerning former Alabama players as the NFL gets down to 53-man rosters

The University of Alabama football program is poised to have 57 former players on active NFL rosters for Opening Weekend, which would top last year’s impressive showing without players opting-out.

With the San Francisco 49ers releasing undrafted safety Jared Mayden late Saturday, the Crimson Tide had players on every NFL team minus three after cutdown day: the 49ers, Saints and Chiefs.

The 57 did not include the five players who have opted out for the 2020 season, two on an injury list or one who will miss the start of the season. Washington linebacker Reuben Foster and Baltimore wide receiver DeAndew White will both miss the season, while defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson will miss six weeks on the non-football injury list of the Los Angeles Rams.

In 2019, Alabama had the most players of any college, 56, on active 2019 NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters. The Crimson Tide also saw the most NFL players on season-opening rosters in 2018, with 44.

NFL teams had until 3 p.m. CT to get down to 53 players on their official roster. More player activity is expected, and teams can sign players to practice squads on Sunday.

Most of the former Crimson Tide players released were on the offensive side, including Hale Hentges, Ross Pierschbacher and Cam Sims by the Washington Football Club.

Also let go were Lester Cotton Sr. (Raiders), Saivion Smith (Cowboys), Tim Williams (Packers), Gehrig Dieter (Chiefs), Shyheim Carter (Jets), Carson Tinker (Giants) and Robert Foster (Bills).

Mayden played in 12 games, with 11 starts last season for Alabama. He tied for second in the SEC with four interceptions, to go with 59 tackles, including one for loss.

The tracker will be updated as necessary through Labor Day Weekend. 

Robert Foster released by Bills 

After he was reportedly on the trading block to see if any teams would give them a draft pick, the Buffalo Bills released wide receiver Robert Foster on Saturday

Despite playing in 13 games last season, Foster had just three receptions for the Bills last season. In two years he had 30 catches for 605 yards.

Foster was initially signed as an undrafted free agent.  

Shyheim Carter released by the Jets

Former Alabama defensive back Shyheim Carter was among the final cuts of the New York Jets on Saturday. 

Carter, who was Alabama's nickel defender last season, was an undrafted free agent with the Jets. 

Played in 50 career games with 23 starts at star. Was credited with 43 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, to go with seven pass breakups and a forced fumble as a senior. Also had an interception during the final game of his Alabama career.

Cutdown Day

A numbers of of former Alabama players were released Saturday morning as NFL teams have to get down to 53 players 

These are all as reported, not all are official yet. Among them: 

Gehrig Dieter, Kansas City Chiefs

Hale Hentges, Washington Football Club

Ross Pierschbacher, Washington Football Club

Cam Sims, Washington Football Club

Savion Smith, Dallas Cowboys

Carson Tinker, New York Giants

Tim Williams, Green Bay Packers

All will be free agents. Some will be added to practice squads. Tinker was added to the Giants roster with the expectation of being a practice-squad player. 

Defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list for the Los Angeles Rams (out until Week 7)

Reuben Foster was placed on injured reserve by Washington. He won't play this season.

Former Crimson Tide running back Derrick Gore was waived by the Chargers, and defensive back Maurice Smith by the Cincinnati Bengals.

I remember one time seeing a player we had just released just hanging around in our hallway. I asked him if he needed anything.
He just said, kind of crying, "I got nowhere to go." It was heart wrenching, will never forget that.

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) September 5, 2020

Ryan Kelly Signs $50 million deal with Colts

The Indianapolis Colts announced they have signed Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly to a contract extension. 

Kelly, 27, has played in 51 games with the team since being selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

The reported details are four years, $50 million, of which $34 million are guaranteed.

For the #Colts and C Ryan Kelly, it’s a 4-year deal worth $50M, source said. It contains $34M in guarantees. The new highest paid center. https://t.co/p1gdLxH0ci

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 3, 2020

How will Ryan Kelly celebrate becoming the highest paid center in the NFL?

“I don’t know, maybe pick up a six pack of beer on the way home?”

Classic. @WISH_TV #Colts pic.twitter.com/TAfeY9jtpq

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) September 3, 2020

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix released

ESPN reported on Thursday that former Crimson Tide safety Clinton-Dix has been released by the Dallas Cowboys. He had signed a one-year deal worth $3.75 million in March, but only $2.25 million was guaranteed.

Per Cowboy Maven, in a three-week span he went from a starting safety to a backup safety to a safety out of a job.

Browns Trade for Ronnie Harrison

The Cleveland Browns announced that they acquired safety Ronnie Harrison  from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2021 fifth-round pick.

From clevelandbrowns.com: "Harrison is 6-3, 214 pounds and in his third NFL season out of Alabama. Originally drafted by Jacksonville in the third round of the 2018 draft, Harrison has appeared in 28 games with 22 starts. He has 103 career tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He started 14 games last season and finished second on the team in tackles (70) and passes defensed (nine), while adding two sacks, two interceptions and on fumble recovery. A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Harrison helped Alabama capture two national championships (2016 and 2018)."

Carson Tinker is Back in the NFL 

The New York Giants signed veteran long-snapper Carson Tinker to their training camp roster on Wednesday. Tinker, who appeared in 69 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013-18, will likely serve as a reserve player on the Giants practice squad this season.

Tinker had a bit of an in with the Giants. Head coach Joe Judge worked with Tinker at Alabama.

Cutdown Day Looms

It's the week that everyone in the National Football League hates the most. 

By Saturday afternoon, every team has to get its roster down to the 53-man limit, which means saying goodbye to a lot of talented players. 

As of Tuesday night, there were 71 former Crimson Tide players on various NFL rosters, with five having opted out. 

Last year, Alabama had the most players, 56, on active rosters during 2019 kickoff weekend, which is the only time the league releases a snapshot of rosters as they're otherwise fluid. 

That was 12 more than any other college program, Ohio State with 46. 

The Crimson Tide also placed the most NFL players on season-opening rosters in 2018, with 44.

Alabama had nine players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, 10 including Jalen Hurts.

Bama Central will continuously provide updates on the latest movement as many teams won't wait until Saturday to trim the roster.  

Changes can also found on our Bama/NFL page, including:

Alabama players in the NFL database

Alabama players in the NFL by Team

Active and non-active Alabama players in NFL teams  

Alabama players in the NFL by position

The details

Saturday: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.

Sunday: Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at noon ET.

Upon receipt of the Personnel Notice at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET, clubs may establish a practice squad of 16 players. (Note: Players on the practice squad are not on the active roster).

Previous 3 moves involving former Alabama players 

1. Linebacker Mark Barron signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos.

Per Mile High Huddle, the one-year deal is reportedly for $2.5 million, of which $1 million is guaranteed. 

“With all of the situations that were presented to me, this just ended up being the best one," Barron said. "I felt like it was the best fit with everything that was in place already and with the coaching staff. Simply to put it, I felt like it was the best fit for me.”

2. Wide receiver DeAndrew White was placed on the Reserved/Injured list of the Baltimore Ravens, meaning he doesn't count against the 90-man limit for now.

3. Long-snapper Carson Tinker had a tryout with the New York Giants.