Adrian Amos, Robert Tonyan and other former Packers among the final cuts around the NFL

Posted by Admin August 28, 2024 NFL

Spread the love

Jacksonville Jaguars safety Adrian Amos, a key contributor to the Green Bay Packers from 2019 through 2022, was one of the more surprising cuts from around the NFL on Tuesday, when teams settled on their initial 53-man rosters.

The 31-year-old who never missed a start with the Packers spent the 2023 season split between Houston and the New York Jets, then signed with the Jaguars this offseason.

Former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan was also a roster casualty, in Minnesota. That may also register as a surprise, considering the Vikings placed tight end T.J. Hockenson on the physically unable to perform list and won’t have him available for at least the first four games of the season. Hockenson is coming back from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, sustained Christmas Eve.

Tonyan played in 17 games for the Bears last season, catching 11 passes for 112 yards. His first five NFL seasons were in Green Bay. He first signed with Detroit in 2017 but never saw an NFL field with the Lions, meaning he’s spent at least some time with all four NFC North teams.

They weren’t the only former Packers player who found themselves out of an NFL job, at least for now, before practice squads are finalized. Here were some others:

Kevin King, Atlanta Falcons

King hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021 in the fifth of his star-crossed years with Green Bay. The cornerback, still just 29, was trying to make a comeback under his old Packers secondary coach, Jerry Gray, who’s now on the Falcons coaching staff. Those who follow the Falcons considered his cut a surprise, with the team keeping only five cornerbacks.

Rudy Ford, Carolina Panthers

The safety and special teams ace for the Packers last year was placed on injured reserve in the playoffs with a hamstring injury and had signed with Carolina just two weeks ago. He played the last two seasons in Green Bay, hauling in five interceptions and racking up 115 tackles.

Oren Burks, Philadelphia Eagles

Burks signed in the offseason with the Eagles on a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million. The linebacker had developed a reputation for special-teams excellence, but he also did start five games last year for San Francisco, in his second year with the 49ers. Burks spent four years in Green Bay and then moved out west, where his 49ers eliminated the Packers in last year’s playoffs. It appears there won’t be another reunion during the Week 1 game in Brazil.

Johnathan Abram, Equanimeous St. Brown and two others, New Orleans Saints

Abram was only briefly a Packer in 2022, appearing in two games, then played in nine last year with the Saints. What made it surprising was that Abram had enjoyed a strong camp and was even a candidate for a starting job. The former first-round pick was claimed off waivers by the Packers but waived again three weeks later.

He’s one of four former Packers cut by the Saints, joined by defensive lineman Jack Heflin, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.

The latter, a former Packers sixth-round draft pick who also had a good camp and caught a touchdown in the preseason finale, is the older brother of Lions standout Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Tim Boyle, Houston Texans

The backup quarterback, first signed as an undrafted free agent by the Packers and then brought over to the New York Jets, where he continued working with Aaron Rodgers, was third behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills on the Texans depth chart. Boyle played in three games for the Jets last year after spending time in 2022 with the Bears and 2021 with the Lions following his two seasons in Green Bay.

Krys Barnes, Arizona Cardinals

It was at least a modest surprise that the former Packers linebacker had been given a pink slip. Barnes first made the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and immediately joined the starting lineup. The high-school teammate of Jordan Love was with the team in 2021 and 2022, as well, though the latter season was shortened by injury. He played in 16 games for Arizona last year.

Josiah Deguara, Jacksonville Jaguars

The tight end was with the Packers each of the past four seasons but started only 10 games, finishing his Packers tenure with 47 catches and 436 yards, plus two touchdowns. The third-round pick couldn’t quite get a stable foothold in the rotation as an H-back or tight end and wound up in Jacksonville this offseason.

Other names from recent Packers past

Defensive lineman Jonathan Garvin, who played for the Packers from 2020 through 2022, was cut by San Francisco. Green Bay somewhat famously cut ties with Garvin on his birthday in advance of the 2023 season.
Ty Summers, a linebacker drafted in the seventh round in 2019, was cut by Detroit. He played in 46 games for the Packers from 2019 through 21 and spent last year with New Orleans, playing 15 games.
Kiondre Thomas, a cornerback who played in one game last year for the Packers, was released by Pittsburgh.
Justin Hollins, an edge rusher who played four games for the Packers last year, was released by Washington.
Former Packers draft pick Lew Nichols was cut by Philadelphia. The running back was the only player in the 2023 draft class not retained on the active roster last season.