Canadian Taylor Elgersma has not been included in the Green Bay Packers’ active roster for the upcoming season. The Packers decided to waive the former standout quarterback from Wilfrid Laurier as part of their final roster cuts to meet the 53-man limit. Green Bay will kick off the season with only two quarterbacks, Jordan Love and Malik Willis, after also waiving Sean Clifford.
If Elgersma, hailing from London, Ont., successfully clears waivers, the Packers have the option to place the 2024 Hec Crighton Trophy recipient on their practice squad. Other Canadian players released by NFL teams in the final cuts include tight end Nikola Kalinic (Atlanta Falcons), wide receiver Ajou Ajou (Indianapolis Colts), offensive linemen Sidy Sow (New England Patriots), and Kyle Hergel (New Orleans Saints).
The San Francisco 49ers cut ties with three quarterbacks – Carter Bradley, Nate Sudfeld, and Tanner Mordecai – leaving them with Brock Purdy as the starter alongside former first-round pick Mac Jones. Canadian Kurtis Rourke, selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, is currently on the non-football injury list as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.
Rourke, originally from Oakville, Ont., played the 2024 season at Indiana despite a torn ACL. The injury was not disclosed until the end of the Hoosiers’ season. Standing at six-foot-four and weighing 222 pounds, Rourke underwent surgery on January 8. His older brother, Nathan, is a quarterback for the CFL’s B.C. Lions.
Additionally, former CFL players Ontaria Wilson and Ralph Holley were released by the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, respectively.
Elgersma, measuring six-foot-five and weighing 227 pounds, demonstrated an impressive performance in the preseason, completing 16 of 23 passes (69.6%) for 166 yards and a touchdown in three appearances for Green Bay. He also managed a four-yard run.
After attending Green Bay’s mini-camp, Elgersma signed with the team as an undrafted free agent. He became just the fourth Canadian university quarterback to secure a deal in the NFL and the first since 1987. Elgersma led Laurier to a Vanier Cup appearance last season and later earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl, becoming the second Canadian university player and the first U Sports quarterback to receive the honor.
Ajou, a native of Brooks, Alta., joined the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent in January. He recorded four catches for 27 yards in three preseason games. Standing at six-foot-two and weighing 211 pounds, Ajou previously played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, tallying 20 catches for 302 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games last season before pursuing NFL opportunities.
Hergel, a six-foot-two, 315-pound player from Toronto, was embarking on his second season with the New Orleans Saints. He appeared in eight games last season after signing with the Saints as an undrafted free agent from Boston College. Hergel, aged 25, was also selected in the first round of the 2024 CFL draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Sow, who stands at six-foot-five and weighs 318 pounds, was entering his third season with the New England Patriots after being drafted in the fourth round, 117th overall, in the 2023 NFL draft. The Bromont, Que., native started 13 of 15 games in his rookie season but only made one start in 2024. New England appointed Mike Vrabel, a former linebacker with the team, as its new head coach this off-season. Sow played college football at Eastern Michigan University and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 CFL draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Kalinic, a 28-year-old Toronto native, was vying for a spot on the Atlanta Falcons’ roster after spending the previous two seasons on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad. He signed with the Falcons as a free agent. Standing at six-foot-four and weighing 248 pounds, Kalinic played college football at York and began his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. He has appeared in seven NFL games (seven with Colts, two with Rams) and has a 15-yard kickoff return. Kalinic started his professional career with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019 and 2021.
Holley, a six-foot-one, 285-pound player, contributed to Toronto’s ’24 Grey Cup victory before joining the Cleveland Browns this off-season. Holley and his former teammate Jake Ceresna (now with the Edmonton Elks) tied for the CFL lead in sacks with eight.
Wilson, a six-foot-one, 175-pound receiver, amassed 71 catches for 1,026 yards and three touchdowns in 18