As the NFL regular season approaches, all 32 teams are working diligently to finalize their rosters and practice squads. With the conclusion of the 2023 NFL preseason schedule, the focus has shifted to making last-minute adjustments before the opening game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions on Thursday, September 7th.
This year, the NFL implemented a single cutdown day, requiring teams to reduce their rosters from 90 players to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Unlike the previous year’s staggered cutdown process, this streamlined approach allows for greater efficiency in team decision-making.
In addition to the 53-man roster, teams can maintain a practice squad consisting of up to 16 players, with a minimum of 10 players who have participated in two or fewer NFL seasons. While practice squad players have the chance to be signed by other teams, they cannot be directly signed to another practice squad.
Following the cutdown deadline, teams now have the opportunity to claim waived players from other teams. This creates an intriguing opportunity for teams to strengthen their rosters as several notable names have become available. The waiver order is determined by the same order as the 2023 NFL Draft, providing a fair chance for all teams.
