NFL Roster Cutdowns Explained | Carolina Panthers News

The NFL’s cutdown deadline looms — Sunday at 6 PM ET — forcing teams to slash rosters from 90 to 53, sending countless players into limbo or outright out the door. Veterans with four+ years hit free agency immediately, while younger players face waivers based on last year’s draft order. Teams also wield injured reserve strategically, letting two players sit out four games before returning later. And after the main roster is locked, practice squads of 16 (plus one international player) step in as vital depth, often elevated for key games. It’s chaos, heartbreak, and high-stakes chess — all shaping the league’s playoff race. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/da95fe99d9fe95c6