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NFL·ANALYSIS·September 3, 2026 04:43 AM ET

NFL clubs complete 53-man cuts after 1,184 releases

Waiver priority followed the 2026 draft order

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 31 min read
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What happened: The final roster deadline passed Sunday at 6 p.m. ET after teams reduced preseason 90-man rosters to 53 players. The league's first Sunday cutdown deadline in 22 years produced releases across all 32 clubs.

Why it matters: Players with four or fewer accrued seasons entered the waiver process, where teams could add them directly to active rosters. Unclaimed players became eligible to return on practice-squad deals.

By the numbers: Each club trimmed 37 players from a 90-man preseason roster, producing 1,184 releases across 32 teams.

What to watch: Roster churn continues with practice-squad signings and further transactions ahead of the 2026 season.

Sources

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