The New Orleans Saints have to trim their roster down to 53 players in preparation for the regular season.
The toughest day on the NFL calendar has arrived: cut day. After grueling training camps, and three preseason games, NFL teams must trim their rosters from 90 players down to 53 players. With so many players set to be waived, some will be claimed by other teams, some will find their way on to a practice squad, and others will fade into obscurity as they seek a way to continue their dream of playing in the league.
Like all teams, the New Orleans Saints will have some tough decisions to make. Throughout camp and the preseason, New Orleans has experienced breakout players, underwhelming players, and injured players. The team has to take everything into account when deciding which 53 players will make up the roster.
The 53-man roster has to be finalized by 4 p.m. ET, on Tuesday, August 27. So as cuts roll in throughout the day, this page will be updated to keep track of each player the Saints cut.
Saints cuts tracker
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Player |
Position |
Experience |
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The fate for every waived player is different, and there are also ways for New Orleans to keep guys around without them being on the 53-man roster. One way to accomplish that is using the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. For injured players, who the team isn’t ready to move on from, they can be added to this list , and will remain with the team but won’t count against the 53-player limit. However, they will have to miss, at least, the first four weeks of the season. Once healthy, the player can be activated and added to the roster, but another player will have to be cut so the active roster remains at 53 players.
This could come into play with running back Kendre Miller, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the first day of camp. The Saints probably aren’t ready to say goodbye to Miller, but he isn’t healthy enough for a roster spot right now.
The other way teams can keep players around is through the practice squad, however, this path is a bit more risky. Once players are cut, they enter the waiver wire, where other teams can claim them. If a player clears waivers, they become a free agent and can sign with whoever they want. Players who were impressive in camp and the preseason usually get offers to join a practice squad, typically with the team they went through camp with.
Each team has 16 total practice squad players, with an additional space that can be used for a player on the International Pathway Program. Throughout the season, these players can be elevated to the active roster if the team is dealing with an injury.
For the players that don’t land on another team, the PUP list, or a practice squad, they become a free agent that waits for another opportunity.
