We're not at the difficult cuts yet, but Tuesday is an intermediate step. And as the deadline for the Seattle Seahawks to pare their roster down to 80 approaches, word of early cuts continues to roll in. These are not borderline players, nor are they players that were expected to make any kind of discernible impact this coming season. Instead, the players released this week provided a boost to the roster and bodies in camp.

With the speech out of the way, here are the players cut so far, courtesy of John Boyle.

The Seahawks have released Chris Carter, Jesse Hoffman, Patrick Williams, Neal Howey, Zach Hurd, Brandon Smith, Ryan Travis and Teryl White

The Seahawks are down to 82 now, and almost at compliance. Sometime in the next 24 hours, two more will be given their walking papers as the Seahawks wind their way toward a final roster of 53. The big cuts will come at that time, and provide much more fodder than these.

For the latest news, stay with our Seahawks roster cuts StoryStream. For more on the Seahawks roster moves, make sure to check out Field Gulls.