The NFL preseason is rolling into Week 3, and that means the league’s 32 teams will soon face the unenviable task of reducing their rosters to 53 players.
NFL clubs are permitted to carry as many as 90 players on their active roster during the offseason. That means each team is required to shed up to 37 players as part of the league’s final cuts, which can leave up to 1,184 players looking for work.
The good news for these players? The NFL has gradually increased the size of its practice squads since the 2020 season. Now, teams can carry up to 17 players on the practice squad, so long as one qualifies and is designated as an international player. That will create plenty of opportunities for those released to stick around.
Even so, some will see their NFL dreams come to an end, making the cut-down process agonizing for players and teams alike.
Here’s what to know about NFL roster cuts in 2025, including when they are and when each team’s annual player purge could begin.
When are NFL roster cuts 2025?
NFL teams will have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 26 to reduce their active rosters to 53 players ahead of the 2025 season.
The cut to 53 will be the only roster reduction deadline in the NFL during 2025 preseason. The league did away with its 75-man roster limit, which used to take place midway through the preseason, in 2017. The NFL replaced it with two smaller cut-downs – to 85 and 80 players respectively – but eliminated those deadlines in 2023.
As such, NFL clubs are allowed to carry a maximum of 90 players on their active rosters until the 53-man roster deadline. This gives coaches a longer opportunity to evaluate players.
When do NFL roster cuts happen?
While Tuesday, Aug. 26 is the 53-man roster deadline, not all NFL teams wait until that day to announce their final cuts.
Some clubs like to announce the bulk of their cuts in the immediate aftermath of their final preseason games. Others gradually purge players from the roster instead of dismissing as many as 37 players at once.
The first games of preseason Week 3 – the Carolina Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants vs. New England Patriots – will wrap up on Thursday, Aug. 21. That represents the date NFL fans will want to start monitoring roster cuts and potential last-minute trades.
When can NFL teams sign practice squad players?
NFL teams can begin to form their 17-man practice squads on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at Noon ET. That’s when the ‘claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction’ expires, according to the NFL.