Cowboys, Eagles punt Aussie NFL hopefuls

Three Australian punters and defensive tackle Adam Gotsis survived a day of NFL roster carnage as teams prepare for the regular season.

On a day of savage cuts for the NFL the Dallas Cowboys axed Bendigo punter-kicker Sam Irwin-Hill and the Philadelphia Eagles booted Geelong punter Cameron Johnston.

The Carolina Panthers have also placed Sydney offensive lineman David Yankey, hampered by a back injury, on the injured reserve.

The cut-throat nature of the NFL was on show on Saturday as the 32 teams were forced to slash more than 1000 players from their pre-season rosters.

Teams were allowed 90 players, but had to cut it to 53 for the regular season which begins on Thursday.

In the aftermath of Jarryd Hayne's splash in 2015 and retreat to the NRL, the 2017/18 season initially looked to be a bumper one for Australia with eight players on teams in the pre-season.

Irwin-Hill had shown his utility value as a punter and goal kicker for the Dallas Cowboys, including kicking the winning goal in the team's 20-18 pre-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cowboys, instead of taking the gamble and relying on the Australian to cover two of their roster spots, went with veterans punter Chris Jones and kicker Dan Bailey.

The redheaded Johnston was given little hope of making the Eagles' final roster when he first joined the team in April and had been referred to in the Philly press as just another "body" to push the experienced Donnie Jones.

Johnston was so impressive Eagles management did reportedly float the idea of going for the Australian instead of Jones, but stuck with the incumbent.

Sydney offensive guard Blake Muir added to the Australian casualty list when the Indianapolis Colts cut him last month.

Australia will still be represented this season.

Melbourne defensive tackle Adam Gotsis, after a training camp briefly interrupted after having his right knee scoped to alleviate some pain, bounced back to secure his place on the Denver Broncos' roster.

Punters Lachlan Edwards (New York Jets), Jordan Berry (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Brad Wing (New York Giants), as expected, were named on their teams' 53-man rosters.

The NFL regular season opens on Thursday with the defending champion New England Patriots hosting the Kansas City Chiefs.


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Source: AAP



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