Iowa's Kaleb Johnson Headed to Green Bay as NFL Cutdown Day Brings Big Moves
NFL cutdown day delivered a flurry of activity Sunday, with a Hall of Fame defensive lineman returning from retirement, a star receiver landing back where it all began, and a former Iowa Hawkeyes standout finding a new home in Green Bay. The moves reshaped rosters across the league just weeks before the regular season kicks off.
What happened on NFL cutdown day?
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald came out of retirement on a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. Odell Beckham Jr. made the New York Giants' 53-man roster, completing a full-circle return to the team that drafted him. The Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, made several roster moves, including acquiring former Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aaron Donald returns to Rams for one last run
After months of speculation, the Los Angeles Rams lured Donald out of retirement on a one-year deal worth $20 million, with incentives that could push the total to $30 million, ESPN first reported Sunday afternoon.
Donald joins one of the league's top defenses, forming a dominant front alongside Myles Garrett. The pairing brings together two of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history.
I think this is a complete team with me here or without me here, Donald told reporters about re-joining the Rams. I already thought it was a stacked D-line with Verse ... then you bring a guy like Myles Garrett, a generational talent, and it's like, that could be fun, right?
Donald last suited up for the Rams in 2023 and announced his retirement in March 2024 at age 32. The Rams posted back-to-back winning seasons without him, but now welcome the legend back for what he says will be one final championship push.
He is expected to make his debut in Week 1 when the Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
Odell Beckham Jr. makes Giants roster in full-circle return
After years of injuries, Beckham is back on a Week 1 roster, and it is a familiar one. He earned a spot on the Giants' 53-man roster, marking the first time he will be on the team's Week 1 roster since 2018.
I never wanted to leave; I wanted to win, Beckham told reporters after the Giants' preseason win over the Jets. All I ever wanted was for the Giants organization was win a championship. All I ever wanted to do was be great, and those things still very much matter to me.
Beckham was selected No. 12 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft and put up staggering numbers during his Giants tenure. In 59 games, he recorded 390 catches, 5,476 yards, and 44 touchdowns before being traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
With Malik Nabers working his way back from injury, Beckham joins a receiver room alongside Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, and Notre Dame third-round pick Malachi Fields. He offers experienced depth while the younger receivers absorb most early snaps.
Packers place Micah Parsons on PUP list, Josh Jacobs on exempt list
The Green Bay Packers officially placed edge rusher Micah Parsons on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list Sunday, ruling him out for at least the first four games of the regular season. Parsons continues to recover from a torn ACL and meniscus damage sustained last December against the Denver Broncos.
Under NFL regulations, placement on the Reserve/PUP list requires a minimum four-game absence, sidelining Parsons for matchups against the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He remains on track for a potential October return, making a Week 6 matchup against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, a possible target.
In a separate move, running back Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list Sunday, preventing him from practicing or playing while the league continues its review. The decision follows a May arrest in Wisconsin, where initial domestic abuse charges were reduced Thursday to two misdemeanors: misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst acknowledged earlier in the week that the organization was preparing for a potential league suspension.
Former Iowa star Kaleb Johnson traded to Packers
To address backfield depth with Jacobs unavailable, Green Bay acquired running back Kaleb Johnson in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Johnson, a 2025 third-round draft choice out of Iowa, saw limited action in Pittsburgh behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, logging 28 carries for 69 yards across 10 games as a rookie.
He joins a Packers running back room that includes MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks as Green Bay prepares for the regular season. During his final season at Iowa, Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns, showcasing the kind of production that made him a sought-after prospect.
For Iowa football fans, Johnson's move to Green Bay offers a familiar face in a nearby NFL market, giving Hawkeyes supporters another reason to tune into Packers games this fall.
Packers trade Kyle McCord to Dolphins
The Green Bay Packers traded second-year quarterback Kyle McCord to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick.
McCord, 23, is positioned to serve as the primary backup to starting quarterback Malik Willis in Miami. The trade follows a strong preseason finale performance by McCord, who completed 22 of 35 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals.
With Tyrod Taylor serving as Jordan Love's backup in Green Bay, McCord was slated for third-string duties. Miami created roster availability over the weekend by trading quarterback Quinn Ewers to the Jacksonville Jaguars and releasing backup quarterbacks Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski.
Vikings keep J.J. McCarthy, Titans release Will Levis
After weeks of speculation regarding J.J. McCarthy's future with the Minnesota Vikings, the second-year quarterback from Michigan is expected to make the Vikings' final 53-man roster, as first reported by ESPN.
General manager Nolan Teasley decided that the Vikings will carry quarterbacks Murray, McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer on their roster heading into the regular season. That could change in the two weeks before the Vikings' regular-season opener, but the team now has a strong mix of experience and development in the room.
After missing his entire rookie season with a meniscus tear, McCarthy underwhelmed in his first year as a starter in 2025. He completed just 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, totaling 15 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Minnesota went 6-4 in the 10 games McCarthy started as he battled ankle and hand injuries, as well as a concussion.
All eyes now shift to the coming week to see if McCarthy remains on the active roster or if a trade partner finally emerges for the former 2024 first-round pick.
The Tennessee Titans released quarterback Will Levis on Sunday as part of their final 53-man roster cutdowns. The decision solidifies veteran Mitchell Trubisky as the primary backup behind 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward heading into the regular season.
Levis completed 53.8% of his passes for 200 yards across three preseason appearances this summer before the team made the move. Originally selected by Tennessee with the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Levis started nine games as a rookie before earning the starting job in 2024. He struggled through a 2-10 record as a starter that season, throwing 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while battling shoulder issues.
What does this mean for the upcoming NFL season?
Sunday's roster moves set the stage for what promises to be an eventful regular season. Donald's return bolsters an already dominant Rams defense, Beckham adds veteran leadership to a young Giants receiving corps, and the Packers have reshaped their backfield with a former Iowa standout.
For Iowa fans, Johnson's arrival in Green Bay provides local interest in a team already popular across the state. His college production suggests he could make an impact once he gets his opportunity.
The NFL regular season begins in two weeks, with teams finalizing their rosters and preparing for opening matchups. Fans across Iowa will be watching closely to see how these moves play out on the field.