Understanding NFL Roster Designations

This article aims to shed light on the complexities of NFL roster designations. As the NFL teams commence their training camp, they initially have up to 90 players. However, by the time the season kicks off, this number must be whittled down to only 53 for the active roster. Injuries, rival team’s players, free agents, among other factors, result in an ongoing process of roster adjustments by NFL general managers. Throughout the season, the status of players can fluctuate extensively as teams seek to enhance certain positions and cover for injuries in others. The following sections delve into the details of NFL’s roster designations.

IR: Injured Reserve

Officially known as the reserve/injured list, it’s more commonly referred to as injured reserve or IR. Players are moved to IR when they sustain a football-related injury that necessitates them to sit out for at least a few weeks. Although these players do not count towards the 53-man active roster limit, their salaries still count against the salary cap. A player on IR must sit out a minimum of four games. Teams have the option to bring back up to eight players from IR during the regular season, with an additional two if the team progresses into the postseason. A player can be designated for return twice. Once medically cleared to practice, a player on IR has a 21-day window to either return to the active roster or be moved to season-ending IR. They can also be traded or released. Players moved to IR before the regular season can miss the entire season, unless they are designated to return when the roster is cut down to 53 players before the season begins.

PUP: Physically Unable to Perform

Players with football-related injuries at the beginning of training camp are placed on the active/physically unable to perform list (PUP). One key difference between PUP and IR is that players on PUP count against the active roster limit. These players are permitted to partake in all team activities except practice. They can be activated anytime during camp once they receive medical clearance. It is important to note that a player cannot be placed on the PUP list if they have already participated in a practice or a preseason game. Players on the active/PUP list can be transferred to the reserve/PUP list during the preseason roster cutdown period. Players on the reserve/PUP list do not count against the active roster limit but must miss the first four games of the season.

NFI: Non-Football Injury/Illness

The non-football injury/illness list is designed for players who have sustained injuries outside of football or are suffering from a long-term illness. Rookies still recuperating from college injuries often start the season on the active/NFI list. If a player remains on the NFI list after the roster has been finalized at 53 at the end of the camp, they can be moved to the reserve/NFI list and will miss a minimum of the first four games of the season.

The Intricacies of NFL Team Roster Limits

A minimum of four matches is a requirement. These, however, do not affect the cap of 53 players on the active team roster.