With the training camp fast approaching, battles for spots in the 53-man rosters of NFL teams are heating up and some veterans could be cut anytime between now until July. According to Vincent Frank of Sportsnaut.com, there are several players who could find themselves without a team anytime soon, whether due to performance and financial issues. First on the list is running back #Matt Forte of the New York Jets, who are currently in housecleaning mode after releasing Nick Mangold, Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis, David Harris and most recently, Eric Decker.
Jets’ rusher Matt Forte on his way out?
While he is a two-time Pro Bowler, Forte is coming off a substandard 2016 campaign, averaging just 3.7 Yards Per Carry.
Last season, he tallied 813 yards and seven touchdowns on 218 carries. With the Jets now focused on youth, Forte could be released anytime. The move will give them $5 million in salary cap space in 2017 and allow rookie sixth-round pick, Elijah McGuire, to show his wares as the Jets’ top rusher.
Jamaal Charles could join the unemployment line?
After he was released by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos signed Charles to a one-year deal amounting to $900,000 and he could earn an additional $100,000 workout bonus. Charles is expected to shore up the Broncos rushing corps, which finished 27th in rushing yards last season (92.8 yards per game). However, reports have it Charles has a 50-50 chance of making the Broncos' 53-man roster due to concerns about his past injuries that caused him to miss 13 games last year and 11 games in 2015.
The 30-year-old Charles was the Chiefs’ primary runner for nine years before he was released, recording 7,260 yards on 1,332 carries with 43 touchdowns and catching 285 passes for 2,457 yards and 20 scores in 103 career games. He is battling C.J. Anderson, De’Angelo Henderson and Devontae Booker for spots in the regular-season roster.
After the Philadelphia Eagles recently signed both Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery, they are expected to clinch the top spots in the depth chart at wide receiver, together with Jordan Mathews. The situation puts Dorial Green-Beckham in a bind and could end up unemployed before training camp. Last season, Green-Beckham caught 35 passes for 392 yards and two touchdowns.
However, he only caught less than 50 percent of passes thrown his way last season, putting his dependability in question.
Other players who cut be cut anytime are cornerback, Joe Haden of the Cleveland Browns, Eagles running back Ryan Mathews, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams and Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg.
