With the NFL regular season rapidly approaching, familiar names will be released over the next couple weeks. Their teams may believe they are paid too much for what they currently provide or may have a cheaper replacement in hand. Some cuts have already taken place.

Sunday (August 19) brought the surprising news of the Bengals releasing safety George Iloka. He had started every game in the past five seasons for Cincinnati. Monday (August 20) saw a few more notable veterans find out that they will be on the chopping block and need to look elsewhere for an NFL job.

Jon Ryan, P - Seattle Seahawks

After punting for the Packers during his first two seasons from 2006-07, Ryan had spent the past ten seasons with the Seahawks. He punted 92 times last year for a 45.0 yard average, slightly higher than his career mark of 44.7. The writing seemed to be on the wall for Ryan after Seattle selected punter Michael Dickson out of Texas in the fifth round of the draft.

Cornelius Washington, DE - Detroit Lions

With one year remaining on his two-year deal of nearly $6 million, Washington has been released by the Lions. Turning 29 on September 10, the defensive end started two of his 15 appearances last season and ended with 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Washington spent his first four seasons as a member of the Bears, a team that selected him in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

In 31 games (two starts) with Chicago, he compiled 30 tackles and three sacks.

Kai Forbath, K - Minnesota Vikings

NFL.com has reported that the Vikings have cut Forbath. With Minnesota, last season, he connected on 32-of-38 field goals and 34-of-39 extra points. In seven games with them in 2016, he made all 15 of his field goal tries and 11-of-14 extra points.

Forbath previously kicked for the Redskins and Saints from 2012-15.

By cutting Forbath, Minnesota will hand over the kicking duties to Daniel Carlson. He was drafted in the fifth round out of Auburn back in April.

Menelik Watson, OT - Denver Broncos

The Broncos fully intend to part ways with Watson as soon as he gets healthy.

According to ESPN, he will be released once he is medically cleared from a pectoral injury. Watson started at right tackle in seven games (missed the other nine due to injury) in his first year with Denver last season. Pro Football Focus rated him as just the 76th best offensive tackle last year. The former second-round pick in 2013 by the Raiders has only played in 34 of a possible 80 games (missed all of 2015 with injury) during his NFL career. Can the Broncos turn into contenders again without him on the roster?
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