Washington Redskins live cuts tracker: Trim to 53 now in full effect

The Redskins have officially begun the roster trimming process. From now until early afternoon tomorrow, the team will go from 90 players to 53.

The Redskins kicked off roster cuts later than most today, but they’ve since begun releasing players whom they deem expendable. We’ll see more of this in the next 36 hours, as the Redskins will cut 37 in order to make the 53-man limit.

Preseason was a success for many players. But that kind of success can only get them so far. The offseason is a brutal race to make the roster, and many players have been running stride-for-stride up until this point. The Redskins have some tough decisions to make in the coming hours.

Below, we’ll have live updates going for the next day and a half. And when it’s all said and done, we’ll give our take on the final 53-man squad. Keep the refresh button handy, and tag along with us as we keep you in tune with the transactions this weekend.

1:24: The Redskins have reportedly released CB Jeremiah McKinnon and S Will Blackmon. They’re starting in the secondary, where there’s still a lot of sense yet to be made. With Blackmon gone, DeAngelo Hall is the only veteran presumably on the roster, and another spot will need to be made available if he is to return. McKinnon had an up and down preseason, amassing multiple penalties, but also providing a game-winning deflection against the Bengals. He’ll likely go unclaimed through the season, but if someone comes calling, the Redskins can put in a good word for him.

1:42: Ondre Pipkins is the next man to go, per Master Tesfatsion. Pipkins joined the team as an undrafted free agent, and his former five-star pedigree made for possible professional potential. But Pipkins never broke out, and after an uneventful preseason, he’s no longer with the team.

1:53: Again per Master Tesfatsion, the Redskins have let go of RB Kenny Hilliard. The cousin of wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard was unlikely to make the roster from the start, with all of the depth at running back. His release isn’t a surprise, but it’s always unfortunate to see a player come up short after being given an opportunity.

2:06: The Redskins have also released CB Tevin Homer. The undrafted free agent made the team on behalf of his size and length, but he could never put those traits to use. He’s the next to leave a crowded cornerback room. More cuts are still to come.

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2:37: It’s been quiet for some time now, but former Redskins Bacarri Rambo and Rashad Ross were released from the Bills earlier. The Giants also released Duke Ihenacho, who played well at times for the Redskins in 2016.

2:52: OLB Lynden Trail has been released. The project player never turned into the contributor the Redskins wanted him to, and after a decently long span with the Redskins, Trail is out. He may be a candidate for the practice squad, but his time is running short.

3:15: The Redskins have reportedly released offensive guard Isaiah Williams. Williams was a dark horse last year to make the team, but instead was relegated to the practice squad. He could be headed there again this year.

4:00: Zach Pascal is the next Redskin to be released. The UFA receiver flashed at some points in the offseason, but he faced a steep uphill battle from the start. He is also a practice squad candidate.

4:33: James Quick has also been released. Only one UFA wide receiver receiver remains: Levern Jacobs. All three showcased their potential on multiple occasions, but by this time tomorrow, Jacobs will likely join them as they search for new jobs.

8:33: Thus far, the most surprising cut of the day has to be Will Blackmon. While it was on some people’s radar that he could be released, it was still semi-surprising to see him among the first releases by the team. Do you think the Redskins made the right choice releasing Blackmon? Let us know what you think in our Twitter poll!

Saturday

10:27: There is some buzz from CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Rich Tandler that Josh Harvey-Clemons could end up making the final 53-man roster. Harvey-Clemons had a huge fourth preseason game on Thursday and is a player with great athleticism. His versatility could make him a weapon up the middle and it will be interesting to see if he can survive the final cut.

10:40: Joey Mbu has been cut, per ESPN’s John Keim. The defensive lineman took reps as the nose tackle in the final preseason game, but didn’t do enough to retain the role in the wake of Phil Taylor’s injury. Mbu was the subject of an Unheralded Players segment, like Zach Vigil, who was also cut earlier this morning.

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10:43: Ronald Patrick has also been waived. Patrick was the third string center, and he likely would have been the backup for Chase Roullier in the coming weeks, had he been retained. Patrick’s release is an expected one, as the offensive lineman never showed much progress in his time with Washington.

10:44: This is a surprise. Per Ben Standig of FanRag Sports, the Redskins are releasing OG Kyle Kalis. The UFA from Michigan showed promise in the latter stages of the offseason, outperforming Arie Kouandjo in preseason on multiple occasions. His release raises more questions: What happens to Kouandjio, and what happens to Tyler Catalina?

11:01: The Redskins have cut UFA safety Fish Smithson. The Kansas product flashed at times, but didn’t do enough to make the roster. Like all of the young players on the chopping block, a practice squad slot could be in his future.

11:13: Lucas Crowley, the final healthy center on the roster aside from Chase Roullier, has been cut. The Redskins will likely save room for a free agent interior lineman to provide some stability in that area.

11:20: Offensive tackle John Kling has been cut, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post. He’ll be a strong practice squad candidate, due to his size.

11:31: Linebacker Pete Robertson has been released. Robertson showed solid fundamentals and above-average awareness at times, but he could never break through in a crowded position room.

11:33: Another surprise this morning: WR Maurice Harris has reportedly been cut. The 6-foot-3 former Golden Bear showed promise last year, but injuries have hindered his ability to keep up with other competitors in a tight position battle this year. If he clears waivers, and that is a considerable “if”, he could join the practice squad.

11:39: With Harris gone, the next three options behind Jamison Crowder are Ryan Grant, Brian Quick, and Robert Davis. It remains to be seen how many receivers the Redskins will keep.

11:56: UFA defensive lineman Brandon Banks is the next to go. He’s reportedly a strong practice squad candidate. It’s worth noting that the practice squad can only hold ten players. The Redskins won’t be able to keep everybody.

12:17: With Sudfeld gone, Cousins and McCoy remain the only quarterbacks on the roster. Sudfeld showed some promise in Week 4 of preseason, but the Redskins would rather take their chances on sending him through waivers. This could be an attempted vote of confidence for a long-term commitment to Cousins.

12:19: A.J. Francis is the next defensive lineman to go. He had a largely uneventful offseason, and although his size is intriguing, he didn’t do enough to stay on the team.

12:21: And the inevitable has arrived. Matt Jones has been waived by the team, per reports. Jones fell out of favor last season, and although he had all offseason to earn his standing back, the writing has been on the wall for some time. This ends a frustrating saga that began back in 2015.

12:30: Derek Carrier will be released if he can’t be traded. He’s garnered some interest, but a deal might not be able to get made.

12:35: Tyler Catalina, an UFA G/T out of Georgia, is rumored to have made the roster. Kyle Kalis got more attention, but Catalina was just as steady throughout the offseason. His versatility is likely a key reason why he stays.

12:50: After a quick start to the day, the Redskins continue by cutting WR Matt Hazel. The Coastal Carolina product showed promise this offseason, but the odds were against him in a crowded receiver room.

1:48: Some big news on the offensive side: the Redskins have cut rookie Robert Davis and have traded Derek Carrier to the Los Angeles Rams. Getting value for Carrier was a great move. Davis figures to be a candidate to make the practice squad.

2:03: Nico Marley is off the roster. Although he showed lots of potential in the preseason, the Redskins seem to favor Josh Harvey-Clemons’ height. More still to come.

2:19: There is a growing sentiment that Josh Harvey-Clemons will make the roster as the fifth inside linebacker. There was more buzz around other young prospects, like Nico Marley and Fish Smithson. But now, midway through the afternoon, they’re gone, and Harvey-Clemons remains.

2:41: One name to keep an eye on: Stefan McClure. The 2016 undrafted safety from California has yet to hear his name called. He could potentially latch on as the fifth safety, which is odd, considering he’s only been with the team for a few weeks. He must have impressed, not just on the field, but in all aspects of the job.

4:28:  The deadline has passed, and teams are expected to finalize their rosters. Stefan McClure has reportedly been told he’s on the team.