Buckeyes in the NFL, Season Preview: Camp Cuts & Former Buckeyes to Watch in 2014

While Ohio State pulled away from Navy, several former Buckeyes received word that they were cut by their professional teams.

Saturday was the deadline for NFL organizations to cut their rosters down to 53 players. In total, 20 ex-OSU players were waived in the buildup to the regular season. The most notable of those was the only Buckeye quarterback in the NFL.

Seattle Waives Pryor

After withering away on the Raiders' bench the second half of last season – behind Matt McGloin, no less – Oakland officially gave up on Pryor in April. 

The Seahawks stepped in as trade partners, eager to improve their backup QB situation (Tarvaris Jackson is a Super Bowl winning quarterback, you guys!). The Raiders, somehow, received a seventh round pick in exchange for Pryor. 

Four months later, any team can pick him up because Seattle released the former Buckeye signal caller, Friday. Pryor had a few highlights in the preseason, one of which was against Oakland. 

The Rams are a potential destination for Pryor, due to Sam Bradford's season-ending injury. St. Louis severely lacks experience behind starter Shaun Hill, as backup Austin Davis has never thrown a pass in an NFL regular season game. 

If no team signs Pryor as a backup QB, perhaps he'll consider a position change. After all, local sports-talk radio callers and my former roommate, Travis, (you all had that one friend) have begged Pryor to switch to wide receiver since his freshman year at Ohio State:

Brewster and Other camp cuts

The Seahawks waiving Pryor isn't particularly surprising considering the Raiders, one of the most quarterback-starved teams in the league, also sent him packing.

On the other hand, Mike Brewster came into Jaguars camp as the starting center after Brad Meester retired. They tried to sign Cleveland's Alex Mack in the offseason but the Browns matched his offer sheet. So, Brewster, after starting ten games in the last two seasons, seemed like a safe bet to make Jacksonville's roster.

Instead, the Jags waived him, Friday. Brewster struggled all preseason with high snaps, bounced one in Jacksonville's final preseason game and, according to ESPN, was worried about his chances of making the roster.  

The other 18 former Buckeyes waived before the NFL's cut down day: 

• Zach Boren
• Christian Bryant
• C.J. Barnett
• Kurt Coleman
• Reid Fragel, waived by the Browns but signed to the Colts' practice squad
• Jordan Hall
• Marcus Hall
• Ben Hartsock
• Travis Howard
• Orhian Johnson
• Brian Robiskie
• Anderson Russell, as seen in the lower right of this picture 
• Etienne Sabino
• John Simon, although the Ravens signed him to their practice squad
• Will Smith
• Austin Spitler
• Jake Stoneburner, "waived injured," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 
• Doug Worthington

Also of note, the Steelers placed Bryant Browning on injured reserve due to a separated shoulder.

Rookies to Watch

Ryan Shazier and Bradley Roby were selected in the first round of this year's draft and, obviously, have to deal with high expectations.

Three teams found value in Buckeyes outside of the first round, as well. 

Indianapolis, who selected Jack Mewhort in the second round, now needs his versatility due to injuries on the offensive line. The former Ohio State tackle is expected to start at left guard and, with both Colts centers ailing, started at center in their final preseason game. 

Corey Linsley has also thrust his way into the Packers' lineup because of injuries. Selected in the fifth round, Linsley will be the one snapping to Aaron Rodgers in week one because starting center JC Tretter hurt his knee. Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Linsley's role, Sunday:

"Corey Linsley is our starting center." -Mike McCarthy

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 31, 2014

Philly Brown is one of two undrafted, rookie Buckeyes to crack Carolina's 53-man squad. He broke camp with the Panthers, becoming their main kick and punt returner. Carolina's depth at wide receiver is thin, so Brown might also see time as one of Cam Newton's targets.

Full List of Buckeyes in the NFL