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New England Patriots

When are the 2022 NFL roster cut-down days?

By Alex Barth
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 11: Two practice balls on the field ahead of the the preseason game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

  • With the NFL preseason now in full swing, the next big events on the football calendar are the roster cut-down dates. Unlike past years, when teams trimmed from their 90-man roster to 53 players at the end of the preseason, the cuts are now staggered.

    Following each of the three preseason games, teams will have cuts to make. Player movement often ticks up around those cuts as the league especially goes through a sort of roster churn. When are those deadlines in 2022, and how many players get cut during each? Let’s take a look…

  • Initial roster cuts – Tuesday, Aug. 16

    The first set of roster cuts come the Tuesday after the first week of the preseason. Teams will need to trim their roster from 90 players to 85 by 4 p.m. ET on the 16th. Given not every team maxes out its offseason roster, this deadline will likely have the least activity of the three.

  • Second roster cuts – Tuesday, Aug. 23

    On the following Tuesday, teams will have to cut down to 80 players from 85. This comes following the second preseason week. Once again, the deadline on the date is 4 p.m. ET.

  • Final roster cuts – Tuesday, Aug. 30

    This is when things really get crazy. The final set of roster cuts will be the final Tuesday in August, after the last preseason game. Teams will have to cut from 80 players down to 53.

    Once those cuts are made, the league’s busiest waiver period begins. Most players who are released then go through waivers, and can be claimed by any of the other 31 NFL teams. Players who pass through waivers then become free agents. After the waiver period passes, teams can continue signing other players who got cut, as well as start building their practice squads (players must pass through waivers before being moved to the practice squad).

  • Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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