NFL Changes Roster Cut-Down Dates, Process for 2022

The NFL will have a new cut-down procedure and dates to get clubs from the 90-man offseason roster to the 53-man regular season roster in 2022. Teams will cut players in three phases after having had one big cut-down on most recent years.

Teams will cut from 90 to 85 players on Aug. 16, following the first weekend of the NFL preseason. The second wave of cuts will see another five players released on Aug 23, bringing the clubs down to 80 players after the second preseason game. After the third and final weekend of the preseason, teams will cut down to 53 players on Aug. 30.

These changes, in addition to the reduction of the preseason from four games to three in 2021, could mean that more veterans could take part in the preseason games that are played. The preseason has been cited as complaint of ticket-holders, with full priced charged to season ticket holders for games usually full of players that won’t be with the team in another week or two.

All of the deadlines above occur at 4 p.m. on the date listed.

When the waiver claims from the final cut-down process at noon on Aug. 31, teams can begin to fill their 16-player practice squads.

Starting at 4 p.m. on Aug. 31, players added to the injured reserve list can be activated once healthy. Players that are put on IR before that date must stay on the list throughout the season.

2022 Steelers/NFL Important Dates

Aug. 13, 7 p.m: Steelers vs. Seahawks, Preseason Week 1

Aug. 16, 4 p.m: Rosters to 85 players

Aug. 20, 7 p.m: Steelers at Jaguars, Preseason Week 2

Aug. 23, 4 p.m: Rosters to 80 players

Aug. 28, 4:30 p.m: Steelers vs. Lions, Preseason Week 3

Aug. 30, 4 p.m: Roster to 53 players

Aug. 31, noon: Practice squad signings begin

Aug. 31, 4 p.m: Players added to IR can be recalled

Sept. 11, 1 p.m: Steelers at Bengals, Regular Season Week 1

FULL STEELERS 2022 SCHEDULE