Three former Montana State football players have made 53-man NFL rosters, while four were cut by their respective teams ahead of Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline.
Former MSU quarterback Tommy Mellott was waived by the Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver Lance McCutcheon was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers, defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez was waived by the San Francisco 49ers and offensive lineman Rush Reimer was released by the Buffalo Bills.
All four could end up on practice squads.
49ers Raiders Football
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tommy Mellott warms up before a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Aug. 16 in Las Vegas. David Becker, Associated Press
The three former Bobcats who made 53-man rosters were defensive lineman Daniel Hardy (Chicago Bears), defensive back Ty Okada (Seattle Seahawks) and inside linebacker Alex Singleton (Denver Broncos).
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Ex-MSU star Troy Andersen was not cut by the Atlanta Falcons, but the ILB will begin the season on the physically unable to perform list, stemming from a knee injury he suffered last year. It's unclear when the Dillon native and 2022 second round draft pick will be ready to take the field this year.
Singleton also suffered a season-ending knee injury last season. The Californian and 2015 UDFA has made 53-man rosters every year since 2019.
Broncos Camp Football
Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton warms up before practice at the team's training camp Friday, Aug. 1 in Centennial, Colo. David Zalubowski, Associated Press
The Raiders picked Mellott in the sixth round of this year's NFL draft and converted him to wide receiver/returner. The Butte native made two catches for 1 yard this preseason, with a 42-yard kickoff return and a tackle of ex-Montana Grizzly Junior Bergen in a loss to the 49ers (a game that also featured Valdez and a pair of Montana native coaches).
The TV angle of former #MSUBobcatsFB star and Butte native Tommy Mellott tackling former #GrizFB and Billings native Junior Bergen. https://t.co/AzerEP2krv
— Victor Flores (@VictorFlores406) August 16, 2025
Pittsburgh released McCutcheon on Monday after he caught five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in the in the preseason. The Steelers signed the Bozeman native to their practice squad last October, released him in November and signed him to a reserve/futures contract in January.
Skylar Thompson touchdown pass to Lance McCutcheon!
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9XMNYSsaxd
— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2025
McCutcheon had an all-conference senior season for the Bobcats in 2021 and made the Rams' 53-man roster as a UDFA in 2022. The Rams cut him the following year, and he spent parts of the 2023 season on practice squads, first with the Houston Texans and then with the New York Jets.
Steelers Panthers Football
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lance McCutcheon catches a touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of a preseason game Thursday in Charlotte, N.C. Rusty Jones, Associated Press
Valdez got waived despite making a good impression in the 49ers' first preseason game, finishing with four tackles, a tackle for loss and a half sack in a win over the Denver Broncos. The California native, who played his first three college seasons at MSU and finished at Washington last year, will likely end up on San Francisco's practice squad if he clears waivers, according to multiple 49ers beat writers. The team, which also waived Bergen, signed Valdez in April as a UDFA.
Chargers 49ers Football
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez reacts after a play during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday in Santa Clara, Calif. Scot Tucker, Associated Press
Reimer, who transferred to Cal last year after three seasons at MSU, signed with Buffalo as a UDFA in April, was cut in early August and re-signed with the Bills last week. They released the Washington state native again Sunday.
Bills Camp Football
Buffalo Bills guard Rush Reimer (63) walks to the field during practice at the team's training camp Wednesday, July 23 in Pittsford, N.Y. Adrian Kraus, Associated Press
Hardy made Chicago's 53-man roster for the second straight season and the third time in his NFL career, first surviving cuts as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. The Oregon native appeared in all 17 games for the Bears last season (mainly on special teams), recording 12 tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked punt. This preseason, he tallied four tackles and a strip sack of Kansas City Chiefs QB Chris Oladokun, who Hardy sacked twice in MSU's 2021 FCS semifinal win over South Dakota State.
Confirmed: OUR BALL
📺: FOX32 pic.twitter.com/IwWd3WhVXh
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 23, 2025
Bears Chiefs Football
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (19) fumbles as he is sacked by Chicago Bears defensive lineman Daniel Hardy during the second half of a preseason game Friday in Kansas City, Mo. Charlie Riedel, Associated Press
Okada has been with the Seahawks since signing with them as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and this is the first time he's made their season-opening 53-man roster. The Minnesota native bounced between the practice squad and active roster in each of the previous two seasons, compiling seven tackles in nine total games played. He nabbed a one-handed interception in Seattle's preseason finale Saturday at Green Bay.
One-handed INT from Ty Okada 😮
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HSjrDh2eWQ
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2025
Seahawks Packers Football
Seattle Seahawks' Ty Okada (39) celebrates an interception against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday in Green Bay, Wis. Mike Roemer, Associated Press
Victor Flores is the Montana State Bobcats beat writer for 406 MT Sports. Email him at victor.flores@406mtsports.com and follow him on Twitter/X at @VictorFlores406
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