The NFL has officially informed all 32 franchises that the deadline to trim active rosters down to the final 53 players will take place at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30, per Tom Pelissero.
This scheduling shift marks a significant departure from the league's recent operations. In previous seasons, the final roster cutdown typically occurred on the Tuesday following the final preseason games. By moving the deadline to Sunday evening, the NFL has also accelerated the subsequent waiver wire process. According to the report, waiver claims for players released during the cutdown must be submitted by 1 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 31.
The adjustment gives front offices and coaching staffs a finalized look at their depth charts earlier than in previous years. This new timeline provides teams with additional time to integrate waiver additions and practice with their settled rosters before the regular season officially kicks off on Sept. 9. Teams will now be required to make their difficult personnel decisions immediately following the conclusion of the preseason slate.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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