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Armstrong’s only KU product to survive NFL roster cuts; Most of them sign with training teams

AP Photo/Brandon Wade

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dorrance Armstrong (92) is seen during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Saturday, December 24, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 40-34.

Updated at 3:56 PM

Tuesday was a tough day for the former Jayhawks, as only one of the nine current NFL players entering the league from Kansas made the 53-man roster after the start of the season.

Defensive end Dorrance Armstrong, who played in 76 games and started 13 during the first five seasons of his career in Dallas, remains locked in with the Cowboys after an 8.5 sacks campaign in 2022. Armstrong followed a historic stint at KU that included his first team for the Jayhawks. – He was named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year in the preseason with a fourth-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft and has remained a safe haven in the league ever since.

The same cannot be said of fellow KU products, with between zero and five years of NFL experience and varying levels of past success, that their pro teams deemed expendable, or at least not immediately necessary, at the deadline yet. Tuesday afternoon. Hakeem Adeniji, Earl Bostick Jr., Kyron Johnson, Kwame Lassiter II, Lonnie Phelps, Caleb Sampson, Stephen Sims Jr and Daniel Wise are cut. However, all but Sims and Wise signed on to coach the teams on Wednesday, via various reports and official team announcements.

Adeniji, part of the Bengals’ criticized offensive line over the past few seasons, started 22 games between the regular season and the playoffs, including all 13 games he appeared in during their 2021 run to the Super Bowl. NFL insider Ian Rapoport mentioned He will be joining the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff.

All remaining coaching staff signees are stuck with their original teams.

The team announced that Bostick, an undrafted rookie free agent who spent training camp with Armstrong and the Cowboys after being paid a guaranteed $220,000 to join the team, signed to the Dallas practice squad.

The Philadelphia Eagles beat Johnson in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, and he played in 16 games with a total of eight tackles last year. Seven of those came on special teams, which was tied for second on the team, and as a linebacker by trade, he played just 18 defensive snaps. Johnson recorded two tackles in the preseason opener against Baltimore but missed time in training camp due to an appendectomy.

Undrafted rookie free agent Phelps, a defensive lineman, declared for the draft after one season at KU rather than use his fifth year of eligibility. He had a solid pre-season for the Cleveland Browns with nine total tackles, three passes defensed and a sack, and the team confirmed his re-signing on Wednesday afternoon.

Lasseter is back in camp with the Cincinnati Bengals this year after an earlier time with the team. The son of 10-year-old NFL player and brother of current KU cornerback Kwinton Lassiter and BYU wide wide Darius Lassiter, he met Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent wide receiver in 2022. He had six catches for 33 yards on the season The Bengals won the opening game this year but only one in the next two games combined.

Sampson, an undrafted free agent who spent four seasons at KU, made one tackle for the Indianapolis Colts in a preseason game but showed enough for the team to keep him on the practice squad.

Other players must be equally valid candidates for a practice squad or other active roster throughout the league. The expansion of NFL practice squads to 16 players and expansion of practice squad eligibility (six of those players can have any level of experience; they do not necessarily need to be juniors) increased opportunities for roster bubble talent.

Players with less than four years of service time are given waivers, and NFL teams had until 11 a.m. Central time Wednesday to file waiver claims. After that, they can start signing players to coach the teams.

It’s worth noting that former KU player Khalil Herbert, a third-year player, still plays for the Chicago Bears after amassing 731 yards during the 2022 season. However, Herbert’s exceptional 2020 season as a graduate transfer to Virginia Tech is what turned him around. To one of the best prospects in the NFL.

The only other Jayhawk in the NFL last season, according to Pro Football Reference, was Chris Harris Jr., who played in 10 games for New Orleans in his 12th professional season overall. Harris, who recently spoke while unveiling plans for the new Kuwait University stadium, is currently a free agent.

Sims, a native of Houston, has returned to his hometown with hopes of joining the Texans’ roster. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and spent four years between Washington, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. Sims caught four touchdowns as a junior and also scored in the 2020 playoffs but has seen his chances diminish in recent years, although he did serve as a running back for the Steelers in 2022. He had three catches for 29 yards and various return opportunities for the Texans on the season preparatory.

Wise, who like Sims was on his fourth team in five seasons, drew attention this preseason when he partnered with Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who continues to hold out for a new contract. He first signed with the Chiefs in January, then was released, then re-signed to a reserve/future contract shortly before the Super Bowl. Wise has recorded four tackles, three for a loss, this pre-season.

AP Photo/Emily Chen

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (77) lines up to play during an NFL preseason football game against the Green Bay Packers on Friday, August 11, 2023 in Cincinnati.

AP/Butch Dale Image

Houston Texans wide receiver Stephen Sims (82) runs off New Orleans Saints linebacker DeMarco Jackson (52) during a kickoff return in the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in New Orleans.

AP Photo/Dani Karnick

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter II (18) can’t catch him as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Breon Borders (36) defends during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Atlanta. The Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons tied 13-13.

Image by AP/Peter Aiken

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Daniel Wise (96) is set before playing during a preseason NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Saturday, August 26, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

AP Photo/Ed Zorga

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Blaine Gabert (9) tackles as Lonnie Phelps (63) tackles Cleveland Browns defensive end during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri .

AP Image/Tony Gutierrez

Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Earl Bostick Jr. celebrates a score against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL preseason football game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2022.

AP Photo/Terrence Williams

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Kieron Johnson (58) plays during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2022, in Baltimore.