The NFL dream of Kilian Zierer and Julius Welschof has been shattered, both are not in the final squads of their teams. However, the reasons are different

The 2024 NFL season will take place without Kilian Zierer and Julius Welschof. On the final day of roster cuts, both players missed out on making the final 53-man roster for their respective teams.

Zierer was waived by the Houston Texans, while Welschof was placed on the injured reserve list by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but with no chance of returning during the season.

The Steelers did not disclose what injury the 27-year-old suffered. Welschof, who came into the league as an undrafted free agent, had impressed with two sacks in Pittsburgh’s final preseason game against the Detroit Lions.

While the season is over for pass rusher Welschof, offensive tackle Zierer could at least get a spot on a team’s practice squad, provided he is not selected by another team via waivers.

Following the squad decisions, it is now clear that star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions is the only German professional to make it onto one of the final NFL squads. His brother Equanimeous St. Brown was also previously released by the New Orleans Saints.

Devery Hamilton had already been released by the Steelers, Lorenz Metz by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jakob Johnson by the New York Giants. Whether and how many of the German players will get a place on one of the practice squads will be decided over the next few days.