NFL has new, multiple roster cutdown dates in 2021

There will be three roster cutdown dates this preseason and final cuts will no longer come on a weekend. The NFL made some changes to dates when teams must cut down their offseason roster and prepare for the 53-man roster for the regular season.

For a time, teams had to cut down rosters from 90 to 75 players before the final preseason game and then down to 53.

More recently, there was simply one cutdown day.

There will be three this year.

Teams will begin training camp with 90 players. They will have to cut five players after their first preseason game by August 17, taking the roster down to 85. They must trim another five players after the second preseason by August 24 and then, following the third and final preseason contest, rosters must be cut down to 53 players by August 31.

That is a Tuesday. Traditionally, teams have announced their cuts on a Saturday during Labor Day weekend.

This will allow teams to make waiver claims and form practice squads before the long weekend and have everything intact for the week of practice before the season opener.

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