The NFL changed the preseason schedule when they went from four games to three this offseason and they’ve now made other changes to summer operations as well.
According to multiple reports, the league’s owners have approved a new structure for roster cuts. Teams will be able to carry:
- 90 players into camp with
- A cut to 85 players on August 17
- A cut to 80 players on August 24
- A final set of cuts to a 53-man roster on August 31.
Those dates are the Tuesdays after each of the three preseason games.
Seems pretty reasonable to me. Multiple, incremental cut down days will make for a "News worthy Tuesday" during the pre-season.
Roster size expand greater than 53 due to the 17 game schedule .
No 53 is still the active roster...but I've posted before that I do not think they have officially confirmed the practice squad rules yet for this year..
Unless someone can find an announcement on that.
Another point in the link if you hadn’t already noticed Is an off week
after the 3rd preseason game. This gives 12 days between final cutdown day and week 1 Sunday to tweak the roster. It will be a hard time for the bubble guys on all teams.
RE: Another point in the link if you hadn’t already noticed Is an off week
after the 3rd preseason game. This gives 12 days between final cutdown day and week 1 Sunday to tweak the roster. It will be a hard time for the bubble guys on all teams.
It will be interesting to see if starters play anything in the preseason because of this. Teams may use all 3 games as a talent evaluation period.
One of the podcasts also made a good point that this is also a reason why teams would HATE an early bye even more this year. If you got a bye at the earliest point available that would be 2 weeks without a game in a short period of time.
yep which is why there are no byes until wk 6 this yr
Almost 30 players will be cut in a matter of a week after being with the team for several months, through training camp and preseason games. Absolutely brutal!
Makes zero sense to add an extra game but don't increase game day rosters. They are willing to change the foundations of the game in the name of safety but not even look at the most basic approach of reducing actual in game plays accumulated by having restricted game time rosters.
...as long as the League retains liberalized rules for IR and practice squads. Maybe they should loosen the restrictions on the PUP list too.
From a fan's perspective, it doesn't really matter whether players 54-70 are on the roster, PS or IR. The first two groups can practice to stay game-ready, and the third group is (in theory) disabled by injuries anyway.
The main impact is economic: real dollars and cap space. Teams don't want to give full paychecks, or even split-salary partial checks, to a lot of players who don't dress each week. With a smaller roster and a bigger practice squad, they don't have to write as many big checks. Last year, teams were permitted some extra, temporary promotions from PS as a concession to COVID. We'll have to see what rules will be in place this year.
I think a 55-man roster, with 50 active on game day, would be about right. If nothing else, we'd probably see better special teams play. But any set of numbers is somewhat arbitrary, and you can probably come up with an argument for (or against) any reasonable combination.
The old argument against having more than 46 or 47 active was the unfair advantage for healthy teams. After seeing the League force Denver to play a game with no QB, and Cleveland to play one with no receivers, that argument is looking kind of lame.
The NFL changed the preseason schedule when they went from four games to three this offseason and they’ve now made other changes to summer operations as well.
According to multiple reports, the league’s owners have approved a new structure for roster cuts. Teams will be able to carry:
- 90 players into camp with
- A cut to 85 players on August 17
- A cut to 80 players on August 24
- A final set of cuts to a 53-man roster on August 31.
Those dates are the Tuesdays after each of the three preseason games.
Seems pretty reasonable to me. Multiple, incremental cut down days will make for a "News worthy Tuesday" during the pre-season.
No 53 is still the active roster...but I've posted before that I do not think they have officially confirmed the practice squad rules yet for this year..
Unless someone can find an announcement on that.
It will be interesting to see if starters play anything in the preseason because of this. Teams may use all 3 games as a talent evaluation period.
One of the podcasts also made a good point that this is also a reason why teams would HATE an early bye even more this year. If you got a bye at the earliest point available that would be 2 weeks without a game in a short period of time.
From a fan's perspective, it doesn't really matter whether players 54-70 are on the roster, PS or IR. The first two groups can practice to stay game-ready, and the third group is (in theory) disabled by injuries anyway.
The main impact is economic: real dollars and cap space. Teams don't want to give full paychecks, or even split-salary partial checks, to a lot of players who don't dress each week. With a smaller roster and a bigger practice squad, they don't have to write as many big checks. Last year, teams were permitted some extra, temporary promotions from PS as a concession to COVID. We'll have to see what rules will be in place this year.
I think a 55-man roster, with 50 active on game day, would be about right. If nothing else, we'd probably see better special teams play. But any set of numbers is somewhat arbitrary, and you can probably come up with an argument for (or against) any reasonable combination.
The old argument against having more than 46 or 47 active was the unfair advantage for healthy teams. After seeing the League force Denver to play a game with no QB, and Cleveland to play one with no receivers, that argument is looking kind of lame.
I love guessing the final 53 before camp and after last pre-season game.