What makes it surprising however is not so much the release itself, but rather the timing of it. There are still two preseason games to be played, and he was in the middle of a battle between wide receivers Rishard Matthews and Matt Hazel, although it's clear Matthews has nailed down the fifth spot.
The 6'5" wide receiver was a standout early in training camp, but during the two preseason games, he only made one catch for six yards. Whether that was a result of backup quarterback Matt Moore locking on to Matt Hazel, who made four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers on Saturday, or Preston's lack of skill, is up for debate.