PHILADELPHIA — Sam Bradford got the trade he wanted months ago – just eight days before the opener.
The Philadelphia Eagles sent Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday for a pair of draft picks. Bradford replaces Teddy Bridgewater, who went down for the season after suffering a gruesome knee injury this week.
The Eagles receive a first-round pick in 2017 and a fourth-rounder in 2018.
“This was not part of the blueprint but we have to take advantage of opportunities that are presented to us,” Eagles personnel boss Howie Roseman said. “We did not go into this wanting to trade Sam Bradford but after the offer they made, we felt this was the best move for our football team.”
COLTS: Rookie linebacker Trevor Bates of Westbrook, who played for the University of Maine, was among the team’s final cuts.
The Associated Press reported that Bates may have been the biggest surprise among the Indianapolis cuts. He was a seventh-round draft pick this year and played well in Thursday night’s exhibition finale.
49ERS: Colin Kaepernick survived the roster cuts when the team determined his ability as a quarterback more than offset any distraction over his refusal to stand during the national anthem.
Coach Chip Kelly said Kaepernick will start the season as the backup to Blaine Gabbert with Christian Ponder as the third-stringer. Kelly had telegraphed the move to keep Kaepernick earlier in the week when he called him one of his team’s two best quarterbacks.
QUARTERBACK MARK SANCHEZ was signed by Dallas after being cut by Denver. Sanchez will back up rookie starter Dak Prescott for the Cowboys.
GIANTS: New York waived third-year running back Andre Williams, a fourth-round draft pick in 2014 who led the team in rushing as a rookie with 721 yards and seven touchdowns.
Williams was limited to 257 yards as the Giants used four running backs in 2015.
JETS: The team cut ties with two high draft picks once considered future cornerstones of the franchise, waiving cornerback Dee Milliner and tight end Jace Amaro.
The Jets cut 20 players but made the unconventional choice to keep all four quarterbacks – Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg. Petty bruised his right shoulder in the exhibition finale against Philadelphia but Coach Todd Bowles said Friday the team wouldn’t place him on injured reserve before final cuts.
CHIEFS: Kansas City traded cornerback Marcus Cooper to Arizona and wide receiver Rod Streater to San Francisco for undisclosed selections.
The Chiefs also cut quarterbacks Aaron Murray and rookie Kevin Hogan, meaning Tyler Bray earned the third-string job behind Alex Smith and Nick Foles for the opening game against San Diego.
WASHINGTON: The team released veteran defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins and waived fifth-round pick Matt Ioannidis.
Washington opted to keep rookie Nate Sudfeld, a sixth-round draft pick out of Indiana, as its third quarterback.
CHARGERS: Among those released was fullback Chris Swain, an undrafted rookie who’s a Naval Reserve officer. Swain had a rushing touchdown on Thursday’s “Salute to the Military Night” against the 49ers.
Rookie Mike Bercovici of Arizona State was cut, with the Chargers electing to carry two quarterbacks in Philip Rivers and Kellen Clemens.
DOLPHINS: Miami kept five running backs but released veteran Daniel Thomas, ending his third stint with the team. Thomas was beaten out for a roster spot by Isaiah Pead, a former second-round pick who has had two carries since 2013.
RAVENS: Former Pro Bowl running back Justin Forsett and Navy star Keenan Reynolds were released.
The Ravens also cut linebacker Arthur Brown, safety Terrence Brooks and receiver Jeremy Butler. In addition, wide receiver and kick returner Michael Campanaro was placed on injured reserve.
TEXANS: Houston activated defensive end J.J. Watt from the physically unable to perform list and waived 18 players.
Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, missed the entire preseason after having back surgery in July.
PANTHERS: The team kept only three of its five draft picks, waiving cornerback Zack Sanchez and tight end Beau Sandland. Sanchez was a fifth-round selection and Sandland a seventh-rounder.
PACKERS: Green Bay released three-time Pro Bowler Josh Sitton, making an unexpected change on its offensive line.
Sitton, 30, had started 112 of 121 regular-season games since being drafted in the fourth round in 2008. He was one of the leaders on a front five that protected quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
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