A wild squad cut deadline day in the NFL caused several surprises. The six German players were also affected: Only two managed to make it into the regular season squad of their teams, but Moritz Böhringer, among others, has a place in the Practice Squad.
Mark Nzeocha of the San Francisco 49ers was the German player with the highest squad chances in the NFL: The linebacker corps was thinned out by suspensions and retirements, Nzeocha was even allowed to play the third Preseason game with the starters. Accordingly, he made the jump in San Francisco’s 53-man squad, there is a good chance that he will also get some snaps in Week 1 of the Regular Season.
His brother Eric Nzeocha is not yet ready for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has been released – just like Moritz Böhringer (Cincinnati Bengals) and Christopher Ezeala (Baltimore Ravens). However, as the three can earn a bonus place for the Practice Squad through the NFL International Pathway Program, it can be assumed that all three will ultimately end up in the Practice Squad with their respective teams.
Kasim Edebali, however, can be considered one of the first direct losers of the Chicago Bears monster trade for Khalil Mack. Edebali had played a good preseason and Chicago needed a pass rush – until the Mack deal was bagged. Edebali was released from the Bears, but could find a new team elsewhere.
The sixth in the pack – Packers receiver Equanimeous St. Brown – was happy: The rookie made it into Green Bay’s 53-man squad.
However, it is quite possible that the Packers are working intensively on their squad again: Green Bay currently has eight wide receivers and only two running backs in the team. At the latest when the 2-game ban of Running Back Aaron Jones has expired, one of the receivers probably has to make room.