Notre Dame in the NFL: DeShone Kizer, Josh Adams, Michael Floyd Among 17 Former Irish Cut

The rosters of all 32 NFL teams are being trimmed over the next two days, and there’s a handful of former Notre Dame Fighting Irish players who may be looking for new jobs come Sunday.

“When the NFL roster cuts deadline arrives, there will be a 24-hour window for teams to claim players who were placed on waivers,” the Sporting News explains. “An hour after that waiver claim period ends Sunday, teams will be permitted to begin forming their 10-player practice squads.”

CUT

Josh Adams: The Philadelphia Eagles have cut their leading rusher from last year. The writing for this cut may have been on the wall when the team drafted Miles Sanders in the second round of the NFL Draft following Adams’ offseason surgery for a torn labrum.

Alex Bars ’18: The Chicago Bears have cut Bars, who played well in the preseason returning from a season-ending injury.

Jonathan Bonner ’18: Washington cut the former Irish defensive tackle, who signed with the club May 13.

Te’Von Coney ’19: The Oakland Raiders cut the former Irish linebacker, who definitely was not “in line for some serious camera time” on “Hard Knocks.”

Michael Floyd ’12: Undoubtedly the Irish’s best player from 2008-2011, Floyd has bounced around since being released mid-season by the Arizona Cardinals in 2016. He’s played for the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings and the Washington football club and, on Friday, was released by the Baltimore Ravens.

Jalen Guyton: Guyton redshirted at Notre Dame his freshman season before transferring, eventually, to North Texas. He impressed in camp and during the preseason, but was cut Saturday by the Dallas Cowboys.

Bennett Jackson ’14: The Ravens parted with the former Notre Dame defensive back, who had signed a one-year, $495,000 contract with the club on Jan. 8.

Jarron Jones ’16: The Buffalo Bills have cut the former Irish defensive tackle who has been playing offensive line in the NFL. Jones is a Rochester native and an Aquinas Institute graduate, so it would have been nice if his local professional team could have kept him. Instead, Jones continues to seek his first opportunity to play in a NFL regular season game.

T.J. Jones ’14: The New York Giants have cut the former Irish receiver, who they signed on July 27. Despite leaving the last preseason game early with a foot injury, it’s not considered a serious issue.

Cole Luke ’17: The Carolina Panthers cut the former Notre Dame cornerback Saturday.

DeShone Kizer: The Green Bay Packers have cut ties with Kizer, who was once Aaron Rodgers’ primary backup.

Alizé Mack: The New Orleans Saints drafted the former Notre Dame tight end in the seventh round, but waived him Saturday after a preseason marred by injury.

Greer Martini ’18: This is the second consecutive year Martini is a cut-down casualty. The Green Bay Packers cut Martini last year, then signed him to their practice squad when he cleared waivers. Martini played nine games with the Alliance for American Football’s Salt Lake Stallions during the NFL offseason before the league folded.

Sam Mustipher ’18: The Bears waived the former center, who they signed as an undrafted free agent at the conclusion of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Tyler Newsome ’18: The Los Angeles Chargers placed Newsome on waivers after signing him as an undrafted free agent soon after the conclusion of the 2019 NFL Draft.

KeiVarae Russell ’18: The Cincinnati Bengals have released the former Irish cornerback after three seasons.

Sam Young ’10: The Irish’s offensive tackle from 2006-2009 was cut Friday by the 49ers. He had signed with the club just 18 days prior after splitting with Miami Dolphins. Young has played nine seasons in the NFL and has also played with the Bills and Jaguars in his career.

INJURED RESERVE

James Onwualu ’17 — The Jacksonville Jaguars placed the former Irish wide receiver-turned-safety on injured reserve Aug. 9.

Theo Riddick ’13 - John Elway, the Denver Broncos’ team president and general manager, reportedly said recently that Riddick would be on injured reserve. That was formally announced Saturday.

Equanimeous St. Brown: The Packers have kept the speedy wide receiver, but he was designated to the injured reserve Saturday after suffering a high ankle sprain Aug. 22 during a preseason game in Winnipeg. St. Brown’s season is over. He is entering the second year of a four-year, $2.57 million contract.

ON THE ROSTER

Miles Boykin ’19: The receiver, who was a big part of the Irish’s playoff run in 2018, signed a four-year, $3.5 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens, the team that drafted him.

Sheldon Day ’16: The 49ers have retained the defensive tackle, who is the final year of his original four-year, $2.9 million contract.

Tyler Eifert ’13: The Mackey Award winner signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in March.

Matthias Farley ’15: The New York Jets signed for the former Irish safety Friday, five days after he was cut by the Indianapolis Colts. Farley started 16 games for the Colts in the past two seasons and has played in 37 NFL games in his three seasons in the league. The 5-foot-11, 209 pound safety was signed by the Arizona Cardinals following the 2016 NFL Draft, but waived by them on cut down day that year.

Will Fuller: The speedy Irish receiver is in the final year of a $10.1 million contract with the Houston Texans, the team that drafted him in 2016.

J.J. Jansen ’08: The long snapper has two seasons remaining on his five-year, $5 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.

Ben Koyack ‘15: The Jacksonville Jaguars have kept the tight end, who is in the final year of two-year, $1.35 million contract.

Julian Love: The lockdown corner — now a safety for the New York Giants — signed a four-year, $3.29 million contract after being drafted 108th overall during this year’s draft.

Nick Martin ’15: The Houston Texans have retained the center, who is in the final year of his rookie contract (four years, $4.7 million).

Zack Martin ’13: The former Irish tackle is in the second year of a six-year, $84 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys. (He plays guard for America’s Team.)

Mike McGlinchey ’17: The former Irish tackle is in his second year of a four-year, $18.3 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

Quenton Nelson ’18: The former Irish guard is in his second year of a four-year, $23.8 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts.

Romeo Okwara ’16: The former Irish defensive end — and older brother of current Irish DE Julian Okwara — signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with the Detroit Lions on March 1.

C.J. Prosise ’16: The Seattle Seahawks opted to keep Prosise, who is in the final year of a four-year, $3.1 million contract.

Isaac Rochell ’17: The Los Angeles Chargers have kept the former Irish defensive end, who they drafted in 2017.

Kyle Rudolph: The former Irish tight end signed a four-year, $36 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings on June 10.

Harrison Smith ’11: Smith has two seasons left on his five-year, $51.25 million contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings.

Jaylon Smith ’19: The Dallas Cowboys announced a five-year, $64 million extension for the former Notre Dame linebacker on Aug. 20.

Durham Smythe ’17: The Miami Dolphins have kept three tight ends: Mike Gesicki, Nick O’Leary and Smythe. The former Irish tight end is entering the second year of a four-year, $3.09 million contract.

Ronnie Stanley ’16: The Baltimore Ravens exercised the fifth-year option in Stanley’s contract in April, which puts the left tackle under contract until 2020.

Golden Tate: Jimmy Clausen’s favorite target signed a four-year, $37.5 million contract with the New York Giants in March. The wide receiver will serve a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Jerry Tillery ’19: The former Irish defensive tackle signed a four-year, $11.4 million contract with Los Angeles Chargers, the team that drafted him 28th overall during the 2019 NFL Draft.

Drue Tranquill ’18: Tranquill signed a four-year, $3.17 million contract with the Chargers, the organization that picked him 130th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Stephon Tuitt: The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end signed a 5-year, $60 million contract extension before the 2017 season.

Dexter Williams ’19: Williams, a sixth round draft pick, made the 53-man roster of the Packers as their third running back. He signed a four-year, $2.68 million contract.

STILL UNSIGNED

Kapron Lewis-Moore ’12: The former Irish DT was placed Aug. 3 on the 49ers injured reserve with a groin issue, then released him with a settlement about a week later. Lewis-Moore, a former sixth round pick of the Ravens, has been on the Ravens, Bears and Jaguars in addition to San Francisco. His only NFL appearance to date was in the 2015, when he played in five Bears games, recording three solo tackles.

John Sullivan ’07: The Los Angeles Rams declined the center’s option on March 5 and he remains an unrestricted free agent.

Manti Te’o ’13: The former Heisman finalist — and most decorated Irish defensive player of all time — is still looking for a third contract. He told Hawaii News Now in June: “I’m still training and preparing but I’ve kind of ventured in different aspects of business. I’m in real estate, I’m getting into the oil companies in Texas, I’m doing commercial stuff, single-family home stuff, just stuff everywhere.”

Andrew Trumbetti ’18: The Chicago Bears waived the former Irish defensive end on Feb. 6.

Justin Yoon ’19: The former Irish kicker hasn’t had NFL interest since losing a kicking competition in May at the Chicago Bears camp.