Former AFL player Joel Wilkinson has been cut by the Arizona Cardinals.
Wilkinson was only signed by the NFL team in February with the plan to use his athletic 186cm tall body in the defensive cornerback position, but the Cardinals announced on Wednesday the 24-year-old was released along with three other players.
Wilkinson, a former Gold Coast Suns defender, was a casualty as the Cardinals attempt to slash their squad to 90 players before this weekend's rookie training camp.
The roster cut likely will not be the only one for Australia's growing contingent of NFL players, with teams forced to reduce their squads from 90 to 75 on September 1 and then to the all-important 53-man squad on September 5.
The NFL regular season opens on September 10.
Australia's NFL contingent this year has swelled to: running back Jarryd Hayne and offensive lineman Blake Muir (San Francisco 49ers); punter Brad Wing (New York Giants); punter Jordan Berry (Pittsburgh Steelers); offensive lineman David Yankey (Carolina Panthers); punters Lachlan Edwards and Tom Hackett (New York Jets); defensive lineman Adam Gotsis (Denver Broncos); and kicker Brad Craddock (Cleveland Browns).
The Jets will only go with one punter so either Edwards or Hackett will eventually be cut.
The cut-throat nature of the NFL, with most player contracts lacking substantial guaranteed money, allows teams to fire players without having to pay their full contracts.
Wilkinson' time in the AFL was marred by incidents of racial abuse from fans and players.
He also played for the Northern Blues in the VFL.
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