The dust has settled following the NFL roster trim day on August 26. The deadline to trim the roster to 53 players was at 3:00 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, August 26.
After most squads carried around 90 players during offseason workouts and preseason games, all 32 rosters were trimmed to 53.
Multiple Hawkeyes were part of the roster cutdown, including rookies, journeymen, and veteran players. The following is a list of former Hawkeyes who signed with new squads or were signed to a practice squad after being cut or waived.
Luke Elkin, long snapper (Chicago Bears)
Luke Elkin joined the Bears during the preseason as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. He was cut as part of the roster cutdown and was re-signed to the practice squad.
Nick Niemann, linebacker (Green Bay Packers)
Former Hawkeye Nick Niemann had four years of NFL experience under his belt, having played his first several years in Los Angeles for the Chargers.
The Chargers drafted Niemann in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he spent his first four seasons in LA before joining the Houston Texans this offseason.
The Texans signed him to a $4 million guaranteed contract, but still chose to release him. After being released, Niemann became an unrestricted free agent and was able to sign with any organization without the waiver process.
After a short time, Niemann signed a new contract with the Green Bay Packers.
Luke Lachey, tight end (Houston Texans)
Seventh-round pick Luke Lachey is heading back to the Houston Texans after being a casualty of the 53-man roster trim.
Lachey was initially drafted by the Texans, but did not standout during the preseason. He tallied only 5 catches for 21 yards in three games before he was cut.
After being cut, Lachey passed through waivers and the Texans re-signed him to the practice squad.
Zach Eflin, defensive lineman (Los Angeles Rams)
After going undrafted during the 2021 NFL Draft, former Hawkeye defensive lineman Jack Heflin has played on four different teams in four years.
Heflin played for the Green Bay Packers (2021) and the New Orleans Saints (2023), and was on three different practice squads (Green Bay - 2022, New York Giants - 2023, Los Angeles Rams - 2024).
After being a part of the Los Angeles Rams practice squad last season, he got another shot to make the squad this offseason, but was cut during the roster trim.
After passing through waivers, Heflin was re-signed to the Rams' practice squad.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette, wide receiver (New York Giants)
Ihmir Smith-Marsette has bounced around the NFL since the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
ISM has played for five different franchises, including the Minnesota Vikings (2021-2022), the Chicago Bears (2022), the Kansas City Chiefs (2022-2024), and the New York Giants (2024-2025).
After the preseason, Smith-Marsette was cut during the roster trim, but did not have enough NFL service time to become an unrestricted free agent.
He went on waivers and once he cleared, he was re-signed to the Giants' practice squad.
Brandon Smith, wide receiver (New York Jets)
Former Iowa receiver Brandon Smith had a stellar preseason, but could not avoid being cut by the New York Jets.
Smith spent the earlier part of his career on the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals practice squads before two separate stints with the UFL's DC Defenders.
Smith was dynamic in the preseason and showed what he can do when he is given an opportunity. In a shocking roster decision, the Jets cut Smith, placing him on waivers.
After clearing waivers, the Jets re-signed him to the practice squad.
Sebastian Castro, defensive back (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Sebastian Castro was one of three Hawkeyes who were on the Steelers' squad this offseason, including Kaleb Johnson and Yahya Black.
While Johnson and Black were almost guaranteed to make the squad, as an undrafted free agent signing, Castro was not.
Castro was one of the roster cuts made by the Steelers, but they quickly brought him back. After hitting waivers, Pittsburgh re-signed Castro to the practice squad.
After the dust finally settled, the Hawkeyes in the NFL are settling in. A full breakdown of all the Hawkeyes currently on NFL rosters is below: