As the preseason comes to a close, NFL teams are putting the final touches on their rosters ahead of the 2025 regular season. The deadline for teams to trim their rosters to 53 players is next week. Here is all you need to know about the 53-man cutdown deadline.
Roster Deadline- Tuesday, August 26
Teams have to reduce their roster to 53 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m. Teams can also place two players on Injured Reserve Tuesday: These players do not take up active roster spots until they are eventually activated.
Post Deadline Moves
Players that are released by teams during cutdown day can sign with other teams. Those with fewer than four accrued NFL seasons go on waivers, meaning teams can claim them and pick up their current contracts. A season counts as accrued if the player spent six or more regular season games on a club's active/inactive, reserve/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists. Players with more than four accrued NFL seasons hit free agency and can be added immediately.
The deadline to claim waived players is Wednesday, August 27, at noon. Waivers will be granted based off the team's waiver priority. The Bengals are currently 17th in waiver priority.
Practice Squad Information
While teams are required to have 53 players on their active roster, they can have a maximum of 16 players on their practice squad. Teams may add a 17th if said player is from the International Pathways Program. Practice squads must be reported to the league 24 hours after the initial roster is finalized, Wednesday, August 27, at 4 p.m.
