EAGAN, Minn. — The 2025 preseason has wrapped, and now NFL front offices must reduce their rosters to a maximum of 53 players by 3 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Here is a rules refresher ahead of roster reductions.
The Vikings operated with 91 players during training camp, a total expanded from the 90-player limit by the inclusion of International Player Pathway participant Oscar Chapman, who has been competing with Ryan Wright at punter.
That number also included rookie tight end Gavin Bartholomew, who has been on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list for all of training camp.
Per NFL policy, teams with players who are categorized as Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness "must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; terminate or request waivers with the designation of Failed Physical or Non- Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List."
If a player is placed on the Reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns, he does not count against the 53-player limit but is required to sit out the first four games.
Each team can designate for return a max of two players who are placed on "an applicable Reserve list during the business day of the final roster reduction."
Any players who are designated for return count against a team's maximum of eight players to designate for return throughout the entire season (teams that make the playoffs are allotted a max of 10 players returning), even if those players do not return to practice. Any player placed on the Reserve/PUP list before roster reductions is required to miss the entire season.