With the preseason wrapped up and the first game of the NFL regular season now less than a week away, all 32 teams were required to trim their roster down to 53 men on Saturday. With most rosters across the league featuring upwards of 90 players prior to cuts, there were plenty of notable names that are now in search for a job, including six-time pro bowler LeSean McCoy.
McCoy was waived by the Buffalo Bills Saturday after spending his past four seasons with the club. The team announced that McCoy was set to be waived on their Twitter account, and thanked him for his career there.
We’ve released 31 players from the roster.
More info on our moves: https://t.co/sRUtzjmnAn pic.twitter.com/fKvR4s9xSb
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 31, 2019
Thank you, @CutonDime25. ? pic.twitter.com/Wnct3H8fC7
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 31, 2019
Now 31 years old, it doesn’t come across as unbelievable that the Bills would waive LeSean McCoy. Though McCoy was perhaps the most electrifying back in the entire league during a good portion of his prime with the Philadelphia Eagles, injuries and age have certainly taken their toll.
McCoy eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in both 2016 and 2017, but it was an entirely different story last season. McCoy averaged a career-worst 3.2 yards per carry, down noticeably from his previous low mark of 4.0 which he had set just the season before. McCoy totaled only 514 yards and scored just three times last season.
As an elusive runner who relies heavily on his shiftiness and quick feet, it makes sense for McCoy to have regressed this much. But there should still be a handful of RB-needy teams interested in his services ahead of this season.
The Houston Texans could make an ideal fit with Lamar Miller out for season. Only Duke Johnson Jr. remains as one of their formidable backs and he’s more accustomed to filling a role in the passing game as opposed to every down work.
The Kansas City Chiefs also come to mind as an obvious potential landing spot with former head coach Andy Reid there. Their projected starter is expected to be Damien Williams but after veteran Carlos Hyde was dealt to the Houston Texans, there’s an obvious need for depth in their backfield. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out, but don’t expect LeSean McCoy to remain a free agent for too long.
