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What's the deadline? The deadline is 6 p.m. EST on Saturday, August 31st.
Can teams make cuts today? Yes, and you will see names flow through. Many of these decisions have already been made and teams will make those cuts early.
What are they cutting down to? 53 players.
What about the practice squad? Every player heading to the practice squad can be claimed by other teams, both before and after they make it there.
This started with 2,880 players in NFL training camps. By 4:00 p.m (ET) last Tuesday, 480 of them were sent packing. The same goes for this Saturday at 6:00 p.m (ET), except this time it is 700 players cut. Some will make it to practice squads but for most, it is the end of the line for this season.
Here's a look at the practice squad rules, including eligibility.
"Hey, Austen,'' I hear.
It's an unrecognizable voice. I can't explain exactly why, but I feel a moment of panic rush over me. I turn around to see one of our scouts. I start to slowly walk as he waves me over. Before I get the chance to say hi, the scout quietly says, "Dave needs to see you."
Dave. David Caldwell, the general manager. Oh my God.
Suddenly, a cocoon of panic and fear surrounds me. You think that's a little dramatic? To you, maybe. But you have no idea how a football player feels when, out of the blue, a stranger who works for the team says the general manager wants to see you. It just isn't good. In fact, it's usually life-changing.
The crazy part is that the guys that make the team get nothing. There is no "all clear" phone call. Their phone just doesn't ring. Think of the nerves from both sides, hundreds of players are feeling that from now until Saturday.