NFL Roster Rules

The players on a National Football League team's roster are the lifeblood of the team. They are the quarterbacks who throw for those game-winning touchdowns, the running backs who will pound it ahead for the crucial first downs, the defensive players who will force the key turnovers that guarantee victory for their team. The league has established a set of specific NFL roster rules to govern the players for each franchise.

  1. Offseason Roster Rules

    • Prior to the start of NFL summer camp, each team is allowed 80 players on their offseason roster. Formerly, teams could carry up to an additional four players provided they participated in the previous NFL Europa season, but since that developmental league folded, the exemption no longer applies.

    First Roster Cutdown

    • In the third week of the preseason, NFL roster rules require teams to cut down to 75 players.

    Second Roster Cutdown

    • Prior to the beginning of the NFL regular season, teams must cut players to reach the roster cap of 53 players. In addition to releasing players, clubs may also place them on injured reserve, suspend them, put them on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, reach an injury settlement with them or place them on the retired list.

    Active Roster

    • Each week, a team is allowed to designate only 45 of the 53 players to be a part of the active roster for that game. Of the other eight players, one may be named the team's emergency third quarterback, and the other seven will deemed inactive and are not eligible to play for their club in that week's game.

    Practice Squad Roster

    • NFL roster rules also allow for the formation of an eight-man practice squad. Players who have accrued no more than one season and been on the active roster for no more than eight games can join this squad and practice with the team, though they are not eligible to play with the active roster and may be signed by another NFL team at any time.