For every player celebrating a new contract or a guaranteed starting role, there are dozens fighting just to survive August. NFL roster cuts from 90 to 53 are the league’s most ruthless annual culling — and the 2026 training camp cycle is no different. Veterans on expensive contracts, young players who have failed to develop, and special teams contributors whose margins are razor-thin are all sweating the next six weeks. Here are the players whose roster spots are in genuine jeopardy as the preseason approaches.
Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett’s situation in Arizona has grown complicated. The veteran quarterback is in the middle of contentious contract negotiations — he has been practicing while talks continue, but the Cardinals have invested draft capital in the quarterback position, and Brissett’s $8 million cap hit in 2026 is substantial for a backup. If the Cardinals and Brissett cannot reach an agreement on a restructured deal, the 33-year-old could become a surprise camp casualty. His experience and locker-room presence would be difficult to replace, but Arizona’s front office has shown a willingness to make unsentimental financial decisions. Brissett is competing not just against other quarterbacks but against the salary cap.
Diego Pavia, QB, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens waived rookie quarterback Diego Pavia before training camp even began — a reminder that for undrafted and late-round quarterbacks, the margin for error is essentially zero. Pavia’s release opens a roster spot that Baltimore will use to address depth elsewhere, and it illustrates the brutal economics of the quarterback position: if you are not in the top two or three on the depth chart, you are replaceable. Teams typically carry only two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, meaning every camp has a Pavia — a young passer whose dream ends before the first preseason snap. Pavia may resurface on a practice squad, but his release is a warning shot to every fringe quarterback in the league.
George Holani, RB, Seattle Seahawks
George Holani enters Seahawks camp in a precarious position. The third-year running back was supposed to compete for a larger role after Kenneth Walker III’s departure, but Seattle’s selection of Jadarian Price in the first round and the free-agent signing of Emanuel Wilson reshuffled the depth chart. With Zach Charbonnet on the PUP list, Holani has an opportunity to earn early-season carries — but once Charbonnet returns, Holani could be the odd man out. His path to the 53-man roster likely depends on special teams contributions and whether the Seahawks decide to carry four running backs. If they go with three — Charbonnet, Price, and Wilson — Holani is the cut.
Veteran Defensive Backs on Expensive Contracts
Every training camp produces a few veteran cap casualties — players whose on-field performance no longer justifies their salary. The defensive backfield is particularly vulnerable in 2026, with several teams facing difficult decisions. Veterans carrying cap hits north of $8 million who are not locked into starting roles will be watched closely through the preseason. Teams with young, cost-controlled options in the secondary are increasingly willing to move on from older players, trading proven production for financial flexibility. The Lions, already reeling from injuries to Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, may be forced to keep veterans they would otherwise have moved on from — but for most teams, the trend is toward youth and cap savings.
The Bottom of the Roster: Special Teams and the 53rd Man
The most brutal cuts are not the names you recognize — they are the players competing for spots 50 through 53, where special teams value and positional versatility matter more than raw talent. A linebacker who can cover kicks, a wide receiver who can return punts, a defensive back who can play three positions — these are the players who survive final cuts not because they are the best athletes but because they fill multiple roles. The preseason games that begin in early August will determine these fates more than any practice rep. For the players on the bubble, every special teams snap is an audition — and for many, it will be the difference between an NFL career and a flight home.
Sources
- CBS Sports — NFL training camp 2026 storylines: NFC questions (July 27, 2026)
- CBS Sports — NFL injury updates 2026: Camp tracker (July 2026)
- CBS Sports — Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett to practice amid contract talks (July 2026)
- CBS Sports — Ravens waive rookie quarterback Diego Pavia before training camp (July 2026)