photo by: AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) takes down Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during an NFL football game, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, in Landover, Md.

Among the variety of former Jayhawks playing in the NFL, one established player and four recent draft picks survived Tuesday’s final cut day and made their teams’ 53-man rosters.

Longtime pro pass rusher Dorance Armstrong is still with the Washington Commanders, while a quartet of young players and former teammates on Kansas’ 2023 roster — Austin Booker and Dominick Puni from the 2024 NFL Draft and Bryce Cabeldue and Devin Neal from the 2025 draft — maintained their roster spots following the preseason, even as many battled injury issues.

Hakeem Adeniji, another veteran who worked in the preseason as a backup tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, was also expected to rejoin their roster in short order, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, though he was technically released as part of Tuesday’s cuts.

At least 10 additional Jayhawks will be looking to catch on with practice squads or new teams in the days ahead.

photo by: AP Photo/Paul Beaty

Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker, left, sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers, right, causing a fumble during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Chicago.

photo by: AP Photo/Scot Tucker

San Francisco 49ers guard Dominick Puni (77) blocks during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, December 12, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif.

photo by: AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Michael Jerrell (65), guard Bryce Cabeldue (77) and center Federico Maranges (62) wait for the next play against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle.

photo by: AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal (30) gets a hand off from quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) during the team’s NFL football training camp in Metairie, La., Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

photo by: AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji (75) during pregame warmups before a preseason NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.

On rosters

The most established and consistently productive former Jayhawk in the league currently, Armstrong saw just seven snaps in exhibition action as he enters his eighth NFL season and second with the Washington Commanders.

Booker could miss the start of the season after suffering a short-term knee injury in the Chicago Bears’ second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Before that, though, he dazzled with three sacks against Miami.

Cabeldue, one of two KU players picked in the sixth round of the 2025 draft along with the running back Neal, played extensively on the offensive line for the Seattle Seahawks during the preseason, recording 115 snaps on offense in all. He earned a spot on Seattle’s 53-man roster.

Neal had a limited window of time in which to make an impression during the preseason, as he dealt with a hamstring injury. But he looked solid in the New Orleans Saints’ preseason finale with five carries for 20 yards and two catches for 10 yards. The Saints released running backs Cam Akers, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Marcus Yarns, keeping Neal with Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller and Velus Jones Jr.

Puni started every game at guard for San Francisco during his rookie season. That continuity could be in jeopardy after he suffered a knee injury in a preseason game against Las Vegas, although NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco observed Puni working at practice on Monday and wrote on X, “I’d be surprised if he’s not out there Week 1 at Seattle.”

In limbo

Hakeem Adeniji had a spot as a backup tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, and he participated in Dallas’ first two preseason games after signing there in the spring. Adeniji was released as part of final cuts but, according to multiple reports, was expected to re-sign once Dallas placed some other players on injured reserve with a designation allowing them to return during the season.

Waived or released

Quarterback Jason Bean, entering his second season after signing with the Indianapolis Colts in the spring of 2024, worked behind rookie Riley Leonard as the Colts’ fourth quarterback this preseason. Bean did not play in Indianapolis’ first game, went 3-for-7 for 37 yards in the second and then finished 11-for-17 for 107 yards with a touchdown, an interception and 28 rushing yards in the finale on Saturday. He was waived ahead of Tuesday’s cut deadline.

Linebacker JB Brown had been an early cut in Denver on Aug. 20 after receiving minimal action in the Broncos’ second preseason game.

Logan Brown, signed by Minnesota as an undrafted free agent, got chances at both left and right tackle over the course of the preseason, including 63 snaps at right tackle against Tennessee on Friday. He was one of 11 players cut by the Vikings two days later.

Cornerback Cobee Bryant spent time on the non-football injury list for the Atlanta Falcons before they activated him on July 29, and later missed a chunk of time midway through the preseason due to a hamstring injury. Atlanta waived him on Tuesday.

Fellow cornerback Mello Dotson initially signed with the Las Vegas Raiders out of college, but in late July moved to Carolina, where he played 46 defensive snaps in three games before the Panthers let him go on Monday.

Wide receiver Luke Grimm had an up-and-down preseason. He did not play in the Hall of Fame Game and appeared sparingly in the Los Angeles Chargers’ next two matchups, but made a splash with a 66-yard punt return touchdown against the Rams on Aug. 16. However, he proceeded to muff two punts in the preseason finale, although as part of an extended appearance on offense in which he received 37 snaps, he did catch a late touchdown. Grimm was another casualty of Tuesday’s final cuts.

Arguably the most tumultuous camp of any KU product belonged to defensive end Jereme Robinson, who has already spent time with three NFL teams in the Bears, New England Patriots (two special-teams snaps in Week 2 of the preseason) and Philadelphia Eagles (11 snaps in Week 3 last Friday, the day they announced his signing). The Eagles then let him go as they trimmed their roster on Tuesday.

Steven Sims Jr., a veteran receiver who has caught on in the NFL primarily as a return specialist, missed the preseason while dealing with a hamstring injury. Seattle placed him on injured reserve before releasing him with an injury settlement.

One of the more impressive Jayhawks in preseason action, New York Jets receiver Quentin Skinner racked up eight catches for 114 yards and a diving touchdown reception against the Giants on Aug. 16. However, he too was waived.

Craig Young, already with his third team in the Cincinnati Bengals, played extensively in his team’s third game against Bean and the Colts. He recorded nine tackles, including four unassisted. The Bengals waived him on Monday.

Offensive tackle Earl Bostick Jr., linebacker Kyron Johnson and center Mike Novitsky have all been free agents since the spring.

This story will be updated.