ATLANTA -- The Falcons included three veteran defensive players -- end Chauncey Davis, tackle Trey Lewis and linebacker Coy Wire -- among 17 roster cuts Friday.
Be sure to catch the "NFL Total Access" roster cuts special on NFL Network, 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The cuts came one day after the Falcons completed an 0-4 preseason with a 21-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Davis, a fourth-round draft pick in 2005, made 25 starts in six seasons with Atlanta. He made two starts in 2010, when he had 19 tackles, one sack and one interception.
Lewis, a sixth-round pick in 2007, had seven starts in just 18 games in three seasons.
Wire, the team's player union representative, spent the first six years of his career with the Buffalo Bills and played in 15 games as a backup last season.
The Falcons waived running back Gartrell Johnson, a fourth-round pick by the San Diego Chargers in 2009. Johnson had 10 carries for 36 yards with Atlanta last season.
Local players released were fullback Lucas Cox of Georgia Tech and defensive end Kiante Tripp of Georgia.
The Falcons also waived two players who spent time on the practice squad last season -- wide receiver Brandyn Harvey and linebacker Bear Woods.
Also waived were centers Paul Fenaroli and Ryan McMahon, tight end Marquez Branson, defensive end Tom McCarthy, cornerback Kamaal McIlwain, and safeties Rafael Priest, Matt Hansen and Suaesi Tuimaunei.
The Falcons reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Andy Strickland.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
