This week in the NFL, teams across the league are facing a critical deadline as they prepare to finalize their rosters for the upcoming season. By Tuesday, August 26, at 4 p.m. ET, each team must trim their roster from 90 players down to an initial 53. This significant day is often dubbed the busiest roster day in the league and signals the end of the preseason player evaluations.
In total, this means that across the league, about 1,182 players will be waived as teams cut an average of 37 players each. While each team is required to have 53 active players, those released aren’t entirely out of the picture. Players who are cut can still potentially join a team’s practice squad, which can have up to 16 players on it. An exception allows for one additional player if they are part of the International Pathway Program.
It’s important to note that players with less than four years of service time must go through the waiver wire to become unrestricted free agents. For these lower-tenure players, teams have until noon ET on Wednesday to make claims. If claimed, they transition to their new teams. Conversely, players who have accrued four or more seasons become free agents immediately and can sign with any team at any time.
As the initial 53-man roster deadline approaches, teams are in full swing, deciding which players will make the cut and who might be looking for new opportunities. Over the coming days, keep an eye out for updates regarding the players released and the potential moves that could shake up the NFL landscape just in time for the start of the season.
