Canadian Taylor Elgersma won't start the season on the Green Bay Packers' active roster.
The Packers placed the former Wilfrid Laurier star quarterback on waivers Tuesday as NFL teams made their final cuts to reach the 53-man roster limit. Green Bay will start the season with just two quarterbacks, starter Jordan Love and Malik Willis, as Sean Clifford was also waived.
Should Elgersma, of London, Ont., clear waivers, the Packers could put the 2024 Hec Crighton Trophy winner on their practice roster.
Other Canadians waived or released by NFL clubs included tight ends Nikola Kalinic (Atlanta Falcons) and Tanner McLachlan (Cincinnati Bengals), receiver Ajou Ajou (Indianapolis Colts), offensive linemen Sidy Sow (New England Patriots) and Kyle Hergel (New Orleans Saints) and veteran defensive lineman Brent Urban (Baltimore Ravens).
The San Francisco 49ers released three quarterbacks — Carter Bradley, Nate Sudfeld and Tanner Mordecai — leaving them with starter Brock Purdy and former first-round pick Mac Jones. Canadian Kurtis Rourke, who the club selected in the seventh round of the '25 draft, is on the non-football injury list as he continues to recover from knee surgery.
Rourke, of Oakville, Ont., played the '24 season at Indiana with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) but that wasn't divulged until the Hoosiers' campaign was complete. The six-foot-four, 222-pound Rourke, whose older brother, Nathan, is a quarterback with the CFL's B.C. Lions, had surgery Jan 8.
Receiver Ontaria Wilson and defensive linemen Ralph Holley and Elliott Brown, all former CFL players, were released by the New York Jets Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals, respectively.
The six-foot-five, 227-pound Elgersma completed 16-of-23 passes (69.6 per cent) for 166 yards and a touchdown in three preseason appearances with Green Bay. He also had a four-yard run.
Elgersma signed with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent after attending the NFL team's mini-camp. He became just the fourth Canadian university quarterback to sign south of the border and first since '87.
Elgersma led Laurier to a Vanier Cup appearance last season. He was later invited to the Senior Bowl, becoming just the second Canadian university player to earn the honour and first U Sports quarterback.
The Ravens released Urban, 34, who re-signed with the club during training camp. But Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic-Baltimore tweeted Urban "most likely will factor in their early-season roster plans."
When the six-foot-seven, 300-pound Urban, of Mississauga, Ont., re-signed with Baltimore, it marked the fourth time he'd reached an agreement to return after originally being a '14 fourth-round pick by the Ravens.
Urban, who's entering his 12th NFL campaign, appeared in 13 games last season and had 20 tackles.
Cincinnati waived McLachlan, of Lethbridge, Alta., with an injury designation. The six-foot-five, 244-pound McLachlan was a '24 sixth-round pick who appeared in two games last season for the Bengals.
Ajou, of Brooks, Alta., signed with Indianapolis as a free agent in January. He had four catches for 27 yards in three preseason games.
The six-foot-two, 211-pound Ajou recorded 20 catches for 302 yards and two TDs in 12 games last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who later released Ajou to allow him to pursue NFL opportunities.
The six-foot-two, 315-pound Hergel was entering his second season with the Saints. He appeared in eight contests last season after signing with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent out of Boston College.
Hergel, 25, of Toronto, was selected in the first round of the '24 CFL draft by Saskatchewan.
Sow was entering his third season with New England after being taken in the fourth round, No. 117 overall, of the '23 NFL draft. After starting 13-of-15 games as a rookie, the Bromont, Que., native made just one start in 2024.
And this offseason, New England hired Mike Vrabel, a former linebacker with the franchise, as its new head coach.
The six-foot-five, 318-pound Sow played collegiately at Eastern Michigan University. He was taken in the sixth round of the '23 CFL draft by Saskatchewan.
Kalinic, 28, of Toronto, was attempting to crack Atlanta's roster after spending the previous two seasons on the Los Angeles Rams practice roster. He signed with the Falcons as a free agent.
The six-foot-four, 248-pound Kalinic, who played collegiately at York, began his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. He has appeared in seven career NFL games (seven with Colts, two with Rams) and has a 15-yard kickoff return.
Kalinic began his pro career with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2019, 2021).
The six-foot-one, 285-pound Holley helped Toronto win the '24 Grey Cup before signing in the offseason with Cleveland. Holley and teammate Jake Ceresna (now with Edmonton Elks) finished in a five-way tie for the CFL lead in sacks with eight.
Wilson registered 71 catches for 1,026 yards and three touchdowns in 18 regular-season games last year with Winnipeg. The Bombers released Wilson after the season so he could pursue NFL opportunities.
The six-foot-four, 230-pound Brown had 44 tackles, eight sacks (leaving him tied for the CFL lead) and a forced fumble in 18 regular-season games last year with Edmonton. The Elks released Brown after the season to pursue NFL opportunities.
Brown's first season with Edmonton was in 2023 when he had 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in nine games.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2025.
The Canadian Press
