The Deseret News is tracking all Utah ties cut during NFL training camp in the lead-up to the start of the 2021 regular season.


NFL teams had to reduce their active roster to 53 players by 2 p.m. MDT on Tuesday. With those transactions, there are currently 53 Utah NFL ties on active rosters.

Here’s a look at each Utah tie who was waived, released or moved to a reserve list.

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Utah ties cut in reducing rosters to 53 players

Arizona Cardinals

  • Kylie Fitts, OLB, Utah: Fitts has been a reserve the past two seasons with Arizona and could be a strong practice squad candidate.

Atlanta Falcons

  • Zac Dawe, DL, BYU and Pleasant Grove High: Dawe signed with Atlanta as an undrafted rookie free agent this offseason.

Baltimore Ravens

  • Siaosi Mariner, WR, Utah State and Utah: Mariner signed with the Ravens during training camp and played in all three preseason games, with one reception for 6 yards.

Buffalo Bills

  • Jordan Devey, OL, Snow College and American Fork High: Devey spent time on both the active roster and practice squad for Buffalo last season.

Cleveland Browns

  • Brian Allen, CB, Utah: Allen joined the Browns late in the 2020 season and spent the offseason with the team.
  • Porter Gustin, DE, Salem Hills High: Gustin has been with Cleveland since joining the team as a practice squad member in 2019, then moving up to the active roster and putting up 43 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack the past two seasons.
  • JoJo Natson, WR/Ret., Utah State: Natson had his 2020 season cut short by a torn ACL before re-signing with the team last March.

Detroit Lions

  • Darrin Paulo, OT, Utah: Paulo joined the Lions this offseason after spending 2020 on the Broncos’ practice squad.

Green Bay Packers

  • Bronson Kaufusi, TE, BYU: Kaufusi joined the Packers this offseason after moving to tight end from defensive end with the Jets last season.
  • Tipa Galeai, LB, Utah State: Galeai was on the team’s practice squad last season, after signing with the Packers as an undrafted rookie free agent.

Indianapolis Colts

  • Andrew Vollert, TE, Weber State: Vollert was again waived by the Colts, after Indianapolis cut him earlier during training camp.
  • Isaiah Kaufusi, LB, BYU and Brighton High: Kaufusi, who signed with the Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent, could be a practice squad possibility after putting up 16 tackles, 1 tackle for loss on a fourth down and two pass deflections in the preseason.

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Zayne Anderson, S, BYU and Stansbury High: Anderson joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent this offseason and had 11 tackles and a QB hurry in preseason play.
  • Marcus Kemp, WR, Layton High: Kemp has long been a Chief, with a brief stint in Miami, and won a Super Bowl ring with the team two years ago.
  • Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State: Thompson was a sixth-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2019, won a Super Bowl ring as a rookie and has been a reserve the past two years.

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Matt Bushman, TE, BYU: Bushman signed with the Raiders as an undrafted rookie free agent this offseason and saw action in all three preseason games.
  • Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State and BYU: Leavitt has been with the Raiders organization the past three seasons, spending time both on the active roster and practice squad.
  • Jeremiah Poutasi, OL, Utah: Poutasi joined the Raiders earlier this offseason after spending time away from the NFL in leagues such as the Alliance of American Football and the XFL.

Los Angeles Rams

  • Troy Warner, S, BYU: Warner signed with the Rams as a rookie undrafted free agent and had seven tackles and a tackle for loss in preseason play.

New York Giants

  • Jackson Barton, OT, Utah and Brighton High: Barton, who’s been a part of three NFL organizations, joined the Giants in 2020 but was never active for a regular-season game, and he signed a contract extension in January.

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State and Stansbury High: Opeta has spent the past two seasons with Philadelphia after signing with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2019.

San Francisco 49ers

  • Corbin Kaufusi, OL, BYU and Timpview High: Kaufusi was released earlier during camp and was a final cutdown casualty as well.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU: Wilcox was a seventh-round draft pick by the Buccaneers but was reportedly limited early in training camp by a hamstring injury.

Tennessee Titans

  • Chandon Herring, OL, BYU: Herring, who signed with Tennessee as a rookie undrafted free agent, was waived with an injury designation.

Washington Football Team

  • Jared Norris, LB, Utah: Norris joined Washington in 2020 and spent last year on both the active roster and practice squad before re-signing with them this offseason.

Utah ties placed on injured reserve

Indianapolis Colts

  • Sam Tevi, OT, Utah: Tevi signed with the Colts as an unrestricted free agent in March but went on IR after reportedly tearing his ACL in Indianapolis’ preseason finale, per ESPN’s Mike Wells.

Utah ties placed on reserve/suspended list

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Nevin Lawson, CB, Utah State: The veteran corner who’s been with the Raiders since 2019 will start the season on the reserve/suspended list.

Signing on Aug. 27

San Francisco 49ers

  • Corbin Kaufusi, OL, BYU and Timpview High: Kaufusi had been waived by the 49ers earlier in the week and signed a one-year deal Friday.

Cut on Aug. 27

San Francisco 49ers

  • Kai Nacua, S, BYU: Nacua joined the 49ers late in the 2020 season and had played extensively during the preseason, including a sack in the team’s second preseason game.

Signing on Aug. 26

Indianapolis Colts

  • Andrew Vollert, TE, Weber State: Vollert had been waived by the Colts earlier in the week.

Cut on Aug. 26

Carolina Panthers

  • Dominik Eberle, K, Utah State: Eberle was waived two days after joining the Panthers.

Signing on Aug. 24

Carolina Panthers

  • Dominik Eberle, K, Utah State: Eberle, who had previously been with the Las Vegas Raiders, was signed in the lead-up to the preseason finale.

Utah ties cut in reducing rosters to 80 players

Arizona Cardinals

  • Branden Bowen, OT, Corner Canyon High: Bowen played limited snaps for Arizona in the preseason after joining the team in February.

Denver Broncos

  • Pita Taumoepenu, LB, Utah and Timpview High: Taumoepenu signed with Denver earlier this offseason, his fifth NFL team since joining the league in 2017.

Indianapolis Colts

  • Noah Togiai, TE, Hunter High: Togiai was reverted to injured reserve after he cleared waivers one day following the Colts waiving him with an injury designation.
  • Andrew Vollert, TE, Weber State: Vollert spent time on the Colts’ practice squad last season and signed a futures contract in January.

New York Jets

  • Tristen Hoge, OG, BYU: Hoge, an undrafted rookie, played 50 snaps (46 on offense) for the Jets over two preseason games before his release.

San Francisco 49ers

  • Corbin Kaufusi, OL, BYU and Timpview High: The former Cougar defensive end has switched over to the offensive side of the line and spent the offseason in San Francisco.

Utah ties placed on injured reserve

Seattle Seahawks

  • John Ursua, WR, Cedar and Westlake High: The Seahawks placed Ursua on IR on Monday after the receiver announced on Instagram Live he tore his ACL.

Cuts on Aug. 19

Carolina Panthers

  • Micah Simon, WR, BYU: Simon, who signed with the Panthers following BYU’s Pro Day in the spring, was targeted twice but did not have any receptions in Carolina’s preseason opener.

Detroit Lions

  • Hunter Thedford, TE, Utah: Thedford signed a futures deal with Detroit in January and played 13 total snaps in the team’s preseason opener.

Utah ties cut in reducing rosters to 85 players

Arizona Cardinals

  • Aleva Hifo, WR, BYU: Hifo was signed by Arizona on Aug. 6, but after not playing in the Cardinals’ preseason opener, he was waived.
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Las Vegas Raiders

  • Dominik Eberle, K, Utah State: Eberle, who spent his rookie season on the Raiders’ practice squad in 2020, was already released and re-signed once earlier during training camp.

Los Angeles Rams

  • Dayan Lake, S, BYU and Northridge High: The Rams and Lake reached an injury settlement after he was placed on injured reserve on Aug. 6.

Previous signing

Baltimore Ravens

  • Siaosi Mariner, WR, Utah State and Utah: Mariner signed with the Ravens on Aug. 10 and had one reception for 6 yards in the team’s preseason opener.

Previous cut

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Dax Raymond, TE, Utah State and Timpview High: Raymond reached an injury settlement with the Steelers after going on injured reserve early in training camp.
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