The 4 P.M. ET deadline came and went on Tuesday with the Patriots’ trimming seven players off their roster to meet the NFL’s required 75-man roster.
With enigmatic and under-performing reserve quarterback Tim Tebow, posting a 26.3% completion percentage, there was some speculation whether the former-Heisman Trophy winner would be on the list of casualties.
But he is not out of the woods yet. NFL teams must have their final roster cut from a 75-man roster to the official 53-man roster done by Saturday at 6 P.M. ET.
Arguably, the Patriots’ biggest cuts already happened as they released veteran receivers Donald Jones just before training camp and Michael Jenkins just last week. Both were signed as free agents at the beginning of the season.
Those who didn’t make the squad were: wide receiver Kamar Aiken, cornerbacks Brandon Jones and LeQuan Lewis, linebacker Niko Koutouvides, tight end Evan Landri, defensive lineman Anthony Rashad, and long snapper Mike Zupancic.
Of the group Aiken and Koutouvides provide the most noteworthy names.
Aiken, a third-year pro out of Central Florida, had managed to gain some opportunity in training camp and in the clubs preseason games but couldn’t hang on. He had two receptions for 23 yards in the Pats’ first preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles but nothing in the next two games.
Koutouvides was the other surprise. A core special teams contributor, Koutouvides had spent the last two seasons in New England and appeared in 14 games with the club last season.
