NFL Teams Reduce Rosters to 53 Players Before August 26 Deadline

As NFL teams prepare for the upcoming season, the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Chargers are all facing the challenge of trimming their rosters from approximately 90 players to the league-mandated 53 by the August 26 deadline. Players with less than four years of NFL service time who are waived become subject to the waiver wire, where other teams can claim their current contracts, while those with more experience are released outright and become free agents. The Lions and Browns each have around 50 players potentially subject to waivers, including key rookies who are expected to be safe, while the Chargers have a similar number and must decide on some undrafted free agents who have shown promise during preseason. Those not claimed on waivers may be signed to practice squads, which teams typically finalize shortly after the cutdown date. Key players like Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Cleveland’s Mason Graham, and Los Angeles’s Joe Alt are expected to avoid waivers, but difficult decisions remain for all teams as they balance talent and roster limits. The waiver order is based on the NFL Draft order, making the process highly strategic for all franchises involved.