Angelo Blackson started 15 games for the Houston Texans last season. Last month, the defensive end agreed to restructure the three-year, $12 million contract he signed last year to help the Texans free salary-cap space by taking a $1 million pay cut for the 2020 season.
But that experience and sacrifice didn’t keep Houston from releasing him on Saturday, when NFL teams reduced their 80-player training camp rosters to the regular-season limit of 53.
Blackson was one of seven former Auburn players who were released by NFL teams on Saturday.
The other Auburn alumni released on Saturday included:
· Guard Marquel Harrell by the Buffalo Bills: Harrell was an undrafted rookie.
· Guard Mike Horton by the Carolina Panthers: Horton was an undrafted rookie.
· Defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence by the Kansas City Chiefs: Lawrence received a Super Bowl ring earlier this week because he was a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad when Kansas City won Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2. That came after he played in 11 games with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
· Punter Arryn Siposs by the Detroit Lions: Siposs was an undrafted rookie.
· Wide receiver Duke Williams by the Buffalo Bills: A former Canadian Football League all-star, Williams caught 12 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown in four regular season games, with three starts, and four passes for 49 yards in a playoff contest in 2019 for the Bills.
· Prince Tega Wanogho (Edgewood Academy) by the Philadelphia Eagles: Wanogho joined the Eagles as a sixth-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Earlier in the week, the Houston Texans had released linebacker Daren Bates, Miami Dolphins had released safety Jeremiah Dinson and wide receiver Ricardo Louis and the Cleveland Browns had released center Casey Dunn (Hewitt-Trussville).
Teams have until 11 a.m. CDT Sunday to make claims on players placed on waivers on Saturday.
At noon Sunday, teams can begin signing players for their practice squads. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, practice squads for this season have been expanded from 10 to 16 players, and as many as six of those players will not be subject to the usual limitations on their NFL experience.
During the season, teams will be able to bring up two players from the practice squad for each game, then return them to the practice squad the next week without having to put them on waivers.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.
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