When are NFL roster cuts 2024? Deadline date, new rules, practice squad salary & more to know

August is an exciting month for the NFL.

Football returns with a few weeks of preseason, granting fans a small taste of what to expect in the regular season. Then comes the difficult part: roster cuts.

NFL teams begin with 90 players but will cut about 40 by the end of August to meet league regulations. The 2024 edition of roster cuts will be slightly different with new rules in place.

Here’s everything to know about NFL roster cuts in 2024, including the deadline, new rules and practice squad salary.

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When are NFL roster cuts 2024?

53-man roster deadline

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 27
Time: 4 p.m. ET

NFL teams are required to submit all roster cuts by Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. ET. The deadline has typically landed on the last Tuesday of August, leaving teams with just one week to finalize their salary caps before the regular season begins.

In addition to the final 53-man roster, each team has 17 slots open on the practice squad. Some players who are cut from the official roster will be selected for the practice squad.

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Is there more than one NFL roster cut day?

The NFL previously had multiple roster cut days sprinkled throughout the preseason, but it did away with that in 2023. The same format returns for the 2024 season as teams have just one cut day.

NFL franchises must reduce their roster from 90 to 53 on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. ET. Cuts can be made prior to the deadline, but that isn’t required. Teams can hold onto all 90 for the entire preseason if they so please.

This rule means over 1,000 players can become available all at once, causing a mayhem for front offices looking to sign players to their practice squad.

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NFL roster cut rules

Because of the new rule that eliminates multiple deadlines, the Aug. 27 will be a busy day for the league. Over 1,000 players will become available at once at the 4 p.m. ET deadline.

This also simplifies the preseason, giving front offices and fans one day to focus on cuts. Teams can still cut players throughout the preseason to make Aug. 27 less daunting, however, that is completely optional.

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Regardless of how a team handles it, final decisions must be made on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. ET. That gives organizations one week to finalize their salary caps before the regular season kicks off.

Below is how the NFL lays out the rules for cutdown day:

Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.

Simultaneously with the roster reduction to 53 players, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; terminate or request waivers with the designation of Failed Physical or Non- Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.

Clubs are permitted to designate for return a maximum of two players who are placed on an applicable Reserve List during the business day of the final roster reduction. Any such player will immediately count against the club’s number of designations, even if the player does not subsequently return to practice.

Players who are on the Reserve List or Exempt List and are not counting against the 90-player limit will begin to count against the 90-player limit.

Players on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) or Non-Football Injury or Illness (NFI) lists are not counted on the 53-man roster. That said, a roster spot must be open in order to activate that player.

If a player is placed on the Injured Reserve (IR) before the deadline, they cannot return during the regular season. They can, however, return from if placed on the IR after the deadline.

Players on the PUP list cannot return until after the team’s fourth game of the season.

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NFL practice squad rules

The NFL has expanded the practice squad for each team to include 17 players as long as one is considered an international player. In previous years, the roster was limited to 16 players.

Teams can choose this international player either through the International Player Pathway program (IPP) or via their own scouting department. The decision gives international athletes a better opportunity of reaching the NFL.

The NFL states that a team cannot sign a player to a practice squad contract until all teams have been notified. Here are the qualifications to make the practice squad:

Players who do not have an accrued season of NFL experience (rookies);
Players who were on the active list for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s);
Up to four players per team who have earned no more than two accrued seasons (no game limitations);
Up to six players per team with no limitations as to their number of earned accrued seasons.

Practice squad contracts are not binding, which means a player can immediately leave a team if offered a spot on another team’s 53-man roster.