When Do NFL Teams Make Final Cuts?

It’s that time of year again when NFL teams have to make some tough decisions and cut their rosters down to the 53-man limit.

Introduction

The National Football League (NFL) preseason is the period each year during which NFL teams play several not-for-the-record exhibition games before the start of the regular season. Preseason games are typically played between mid-August and early September, with most teams playing four games.

During the preseason, NFL teams put out their “first string” or starting lineup for only a few plays in order to avoid injuries. The focus of the preseason is on developing players further down on the depth chart and preparing them for game action, rather than winning or losing.

At the end of the preseason, each team must reduce its roster to a maximum of 53 players. This is known as “final cut day” and usually occurs on the Saturday following the final preseason game. After final cuts are made, teams may sign up to 10 additional players to their practice squad. These are players who are eligible to be called up to the active roster at any time during the season.

The Process of NFL Team Cuts

Every NFL team has to make cuts to their roster at some point before the start of the season. The process of making these cuts is usually referred to as NFL team cuts. There are a few different reasons why a team may need to make cuts, but the most common one is to get down to the 53-man roster limit.

The first round of cuts

After the last preseason game, each NFL team must submit their initial 53-man roster to the league by 4 p.m. ET on the following Sunday. These cuts are not final and teams can claim players off waivers, sign free agents and make trades in the days that follow. Below is a look at how teams must get down to 53 players.

The first round of cuts will happen following the fourth preseason game when rosters must be trimmed from 90 to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 31. The second round of cuts is when teams can place players on injured reserve or sign them to their practice squad if they clear waivers. The practice squad may consist of up to 10 players who must have been cut during one of the rounds of roster cuts and are not eligible for another team’s active roster or practice squad.

The second round of cuts

After the first round of cuts, each NFL team must get down to a 53 man roster by 4pm EST on the Saturday of week 4 of the preseason. These 53 men will be the roster that the team starts the season with. The second round of cuts usually consist of players that are on the fringe of making the team and players that are fighting for a spot on the practice squad. The practice squad consists of up to 10 players that are eligible to be called up to the 53 man roster at any time during the season. These players practice with the team, but do not dress for games unless they are promoted to the 53 man roster.

The final round of cuts

The final roster cuts down to 53 players must be made by 4 p.m. Eastern time on the Saturday preceding the NFL regular season opener. Teams can establish a practice squad of up to 10 players beginning Sunday of that same weekend.

When Do NFL Teams Make Their Final Cuts?

NFL teams are required to cut their rosters down to 53 players by 4:00 p.m. EST on the Saturday before the start of the regular season. Teams can begin signing players to their practice squads beginning at noon on Sunday.

The day before the regular season starts

All NFL teams must reduce their rosters from a maximum of 90 players to a final 53-man roster by 4 p.m. ET on the Saturday preceding the start of the regular season. For most teams, that day falls on the last weekend of August or the first weekend of September.

During training camp and the preseason, teams are allowed to carry up to 90 players on their roster. That includes players on the active roster, as well as players on reserve lists such as injured reserve (IR), physically unable to perform (PUP) and non-football injury (NFI).

Once the season begins, teams are only allowed to carry 53 active players on their roster. However, they can designate two players each week as inactive for that week’s game. In addition, each team can carry up to 10 players on their practice squad.

The day after the final preseason game

In the NFL, the final roster cuts must be made by 4:00 p.m. ET on the day after the final preseason game. This year, that deadline falls on Saturday, September 5.

Teams are not required to release their full list of cuts at that time, but they must submit their initial 53-man roster to the league office. That roster is not set in stone, however, as teams can claim players off waivers and make trades in the days following cutdown day.

The day before the first regular season game

All NFL teams must reduce their rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the day before the first regular season game. After that, they may sign an unlimited number of free agents who were not with another team during training camp.

Conclusion

Most NFL teams will make their final roster cuts on the Saturday before the start of the regular season. This is typically referred to as “cut day.” Teams have to reduce their rosters from 90 players down to 53. They can also choose to place players on Injured Reserve (IR), which doesn’t count against the 53-man limit.