The first wave of NFL cuts has taken place, meaning it’s time to update last week’s comprehensive guide to Canadians and former CFLers in NFL training camps.
NFL rosters are now limited to 75 players. Rosters must be trimmed to 53 players by September 3 with up to ten additional players eligible to join practice rosters on September 4.
| Player | NFL team | Date released | CFL rights |
| DL Willie Jefferson | Washington | 08/27/16 | None |
| OL David Foucault | Carolina Panthers | 08/28/16 | Montreal Alouettes |
| RB Lache Seastrunk | New York Jets | 08/28/16 | None |
| DB Aaron Grymes* | Philadelphia Eagles | 08/29/16 | None |
| DB Brandon Browner | Seattle Seahawks | 08/29/16 | None |
| DB Elie Bouka* | Arizona Cardinals | 08/30/16 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| WR Troy Stoudermire | Minnesota Vikings | 08/30/16 | None |
| LB Henoc Muamba* | Dallas Cowboys | 08/30/16 | None |
| DB Arjen Colquhoun* | Dallas Cowboys | 08/30/16 | Edmonton Eskimos |
| RB Cameron Marshall | Jacksonville Jaguars | 08/30/16 | None |
| WR Terrell Sinkfield | Minnesota Vikings | 08/30/16 | None |
| WR Dobson Collins | Baltimore Ravens | 08/30/16 | None |
*added to injury waivers
Grymes, Bouka, Muamba, and Colquhoun, each of whom ended up on injured reserve, remain the property of their respective NFL teams. Being added to injury waivers is a positive sign for players at this time of year, as injured players are often released outright at or near the end of training camp unless a team suspects they may sign elsewhere.
Marshall and Stoudermire had relatively underwhelming CFL seasons in 2015. While a return north for either player is possible, neither would be likely to command big dollars. Seastrunk, who was released by both Calgary and Saskatchewan earlier this year, would be in a similar situation.
Sinkfield and Jefferson are the two players who I believe are most likely to return to the CFL this season. Both have now had NFL opportunities before and after their CFL stints and both would command big dollars north of the border. It also helps that Sinkfield (receiver) and Jefferson (defensive end) play positions that are often areas of need for CFL teams late in the season. If Canadian teams have cap room to spend late in the season, Sinkfield and Jefferson could immediately step in and play to assist a playoff push.
Foucault is the lone Canadian on the list who is now an NFL free agent. While I would be surprised to see the Montreal product sign a CFL contract this season, I would expect to see him with the Alouettes in 2017 unless another NFL team comes knocking.
Browner, now 32, is likely done with professional football.
The following players remain on NFL rosters:
DL Mehdi Abdesmad – Tennessee Titans (N)*
CFL rights holder: Ottawa Redblacks
DB Marcus Ball – Carolina Panthers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
DL Freddie Bishop III – New York Jets (I)
CFL rights holder: None
OL Brett Boyko – San Diego Chargers (N)
CFL rights holder: B.C. Lions
DB Delvin Breaux – New Orleans Saints (I)
CFL rights holder: None
DL Stefan Charles – Detroit Lions (N)
CFL rights holder: Edmonton Eskimos
WR Dobson Collins – Baltimore Ravens (I)
CFL rights holder: None
DL Christian Covington – Houston Texans (N)
CFL rights holder: B.C. Lions
DL Tyrone Crawford – Dallas Cowboys (N)
CFL rights holder: None
OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – Kansas City Chiefs (N)
CFL rights holder: Calgary Stampeders
OL Orlando Franklin – San Diego Chargers (N)
CFL rights holder: None
LB Jerrell Freeman – Chicago Bears (I)
CFL rights holder: None
DB Erik Harris – New Orleans Saints (I)
CFL rights holder: None
WR Andrew Hawkins – Cleveland Browns (I)
CFL rights holder: None
WR Dontrelle Inman – San Diego Chargers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
DB Josh Johnson – Jacksonville Jaguars (I)
CFL rights holder: None
OL Brett Jones – New York Giants (N)
CFL rights holder: None
WR T.J. Jones – Detroit Lions (N)
CFL rights holder: None
OL Colin Kelly – San Fransisco 49ers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
LS L.P. Ladoceur – Dallas Cowboys (N)
CFL rights holder: None
DL Cleyon Laing – Miami Dolphins (N)
CFL rights holder: None
WR Chris Matthews – Baltimore Ravens (I)
CFL rights holder: None
DB Dexter McCoil – San Diego Chargers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
LB Andy Mulumba – Kansas City Chiefs (N)
CFL rights holder: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
LB Tristan Okpalaugo – Arizona Cardinals (I)
CFL rights holder: None
OL Michael Ola – Detroit Lions (I)
CFL rights holder: None
DL David Onyemata – New Orleans Saints (N)
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
OL Austin Pasztor – Cleveland Browns (N)
CFL rights holder: Edmonton Eskimos
LB Brian Peters – Houston Texans (I)
CFL rights holder: None
P Jon Ryan – Seattle Seahawks (N)
CFL rights holder: None
WR Eric Rogers – San Fransisco 49ers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
WR Rashaun Simonise – Cincinnati Bengals (N)
CFL rights holder: None
WR Tevaun Smith – Indianapolis Colts (N)
CFL rights holder: Edmonton Eskimos
DL Brent Urban – Baltimore Ravens (N)
CFL rights holder: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
OL John Urschel – Baltimore Ravens (N)
CFL rights holder: None
TE Luke Willson – Seattle Seahawks (N)
CFL rights holder: Toronto Argonauts
*’N’ denotes national, ‘I’ denotes international
John Hodge is a longtime Canadian football reporter, insider, and podcaster for 3DownNation. Based in Winnipeg, Hodge is also a freelance television and radio broadcaster and curling reporter for Rock Channel.
