Paul Lasike celebrates a touchdown in pre-season while playing for Arizona. Photo / AP
New Zealand NFL player Paul Lasike has reportedly been cut by the Arizona Cardinals.
The news comes after Lasike - who can play fullback and running back - caught a touchdown pass in the Cardinals' last pre-season game yesterday.
Lasike had remained on the Arizona roster as it was reduced from 90 players to 75, but was today waived by the Cardinals as they reduce their roster to 53 players before the regular season begins.
The 25-year-old Lasike attended Northland College and Church College before playing rugby at Brigham Young University in Utah, eventually being picked up by the college football team.
He was unselected in the 2015 NFL draft before catching on with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent.
Earlier in the week, Lasike told Radio Sport he was surprised to have made it this far.
"It's crazy to think how far I've come, and that I've been able to make it down to the last wire."
"I'm trying to keep the faith high, but it's going to be hard."
Lasike said it "was hard to think I'm not going to get cut."
If Lasike clears waivers, he will likely be signed by the Cardinals practice squad, and be a chance at a call-up in case of injury or poor form to an Arizona starter.
Australian star Jarryd Hayne is expected to make the 53-man roster for the San Francisco 49ers when their cuts are made over the weekend.
A three-week inquest in Hamilton is investigating the Olympian's death in 2021 aged 24.