Five total ProToppers released from NFL Rosters

NFL training camps and preseason began with nine former WKU football players on eight different NFL rosters, and with final cuts having been made over the weekend, only four currently remain on one.

Bobby Rainey (Buccaneers), Jack Doyle (Colts), Quanterous Smith (Broncos) and Jonathan Dowling (Raiders) have passed their auditions, and will be on the 53-man roster to start the year with their respective teams. Kadeem Jones was let go by the St. Louis Rams last week, and last night, Antonio Andrews, Andrew Jackson, Derrius Brooks and Xavius Boyd were released over the weekend, with Andrews, Jackson and Brooks being included in the final round of cuts for their squads.

The biggest surprise of all these cuts is that of Jackson, who was selected in the sixth round of this past year’s draft (a round before Dowling). While, yes a late round pick, I thought it was a safe bet the Colts would keep him around to learn for a year or two and use him in situational positions in his first year. Also, it was noted by a couple of Titans beat writers that Andrews is a prime candidate for a Titans practice squad spot, which if you’ll recall, is where Rainey began his big-league football career when with the Ravens.

The Jones and Boyd are now free to sign with another team, and Andrews, Jackson and Brooks have until the end of the day today to be added to their team’s practice squad, and if not, will be free agents tomorrow. If there’s a positive side to the five who are searching for a home, it’s that three of them made it until the last round of cuts, which means they were right on the cusp. If they don’t land somewhere soon, I’ll be very very surprised.

Of the cuts, who are you surprised didn’t make it? Or, on the flip side, are you surprised to see anyone hang around? Do you think our free agents will land somewhere? Let us know below or on twitter at @WaveTheRedTowel.