The NFL preseason is over. Dreams are about to be put on hold.
By Tuesday afternoon, every NFL team must chop its roster from 90 players to 53 in a one-day league-wide purge.
Nearly 1,200 players will be cut, waived, or sent packing, and the scramble to land on a practice squad or catch on elsewhere will move fast.
Surprise cuts. Veteran shakeups. Practice squad strategies. The NFL’s annual roster cutdown is one of the most revealing days on the calendar.
Here’s everything you need to know about NFL cutdown day 2025.
When is the the NFL roster cut deadline in 2025?
The NFL roster cut deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
By that time, all 32 teams must submit their 53-man rosters to the league. Any players not on a roster at the deadline are subject to waivers or free agency.
Teams then have roughly a week to prepare for Week 1 and ensure all contracts and rosters are compliant with the salary cap.
How many players are on an NFL roster?
NFL teams carry 53 players on the active roster, but 48 can suit up on game day. The remaining five players are either inactive or placed on injured reserve.
Can players who are cut sign with another NFL team?
Yes, but the rules vary based on experience.
Vested veterans (players with at least four years of NFL experience) become unrestricted free agents immediately. They are eligible to sign with any team without going through waivers. Vested veterans who make the Week 1 roster are guaranteed their full 2025 salary.
Non-vested veterans (fewer than four accrued seasons) must first clear waivers. If a player is claimed via waivers, he is automatically played on the 53-man roster. If unclaimed, the player becomes a free agent.
What happens to injured reserve players?
Teams are allowed to place a maximum of two players on injured reserve (IR) before final cuts and still allow them to return during the season. These players must miss at least four games before being eligible to return.
What is the size of an NFL practice squad in 2025?
NFL teams can carry up to 17 players on the practice squad, including one designated slot for participants in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
Practice squad signings can begin at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Can practice squad players play in regular season games?
Practice squad players are eligible to be:
After three elevations, the practice squad player must be signed to the team’s 53-man roster to play in a fourth game.
NFL practice squad rules and eligibility
Players with no accrued seasons and up to two accrued seasons are eligible for the practice squad. Each team may also carry up to six veteran players on the practice squad, regardless of experience level.
Players can’t move laterally between practice squads once the regular season begins — they must be signed to an active roster.
What are the NFL practice squad salaries in 2025?
Practice squad salaries in 2025 vary based on experience. Players earn between $12,750 and $21,500 per week.
Players with fewer than two accrued seasons will make $13,000 per week. Practice squad players with at least two accrued seasons can negotiate salaries, with a minimum of $17,500 per week and maximum of $22,000 per week.
Based on the salary guidelines, practice squad players can earn between $234,000 and $396,000 in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NFL roster cuts 2025: What to know about 53-man deadline, waivers, and practice squads
Reporting by Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
