Commanders roster cuts: Everything to know about cuts, waivers and the practice squad

Roster cuts, waivers, and the practice squad are key topics on cut day, the biggest day in the NFL for roster management. Teams must reduce their roster from 90 players to 53 before 6 p.m. EST today. Players on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and injured reserve (IR) do not count towards this limit.

Seasoned veterans with at least four years of experience become free agents rather than going through waivers. This requires them to have been on an NFL roster for at least six games, including time on the PUP list or IR. Any team can claim these players and take over their contract. However, priority for waiver wire requests is determined by each team's record from the previous season.

With a 5-12 record, the Commanders are seventh in the priority list, meaning they will only receive a player if the six teams ahead of them do not request one.

The waiver wire period runs from 6 p.m. EST until 1 p.m. EST tomorrow, August 31. If a player is not claimed during this time, they become a free agent and can be signed by any NFL team. Each squad also has a 16-player practice squad, with a potential 17th member if they participate in the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

This rule encourages teams to sign players through this initiative, which aims to promote American football globally. Teams can sign anyone available to the practice squad, including players from the 90-man roster who have been waived.

Practice squad players provide valuable depth to NFL teams, often stepping in for injured active roster members. Thus, practice squad players are crucial to a team's success during the regular season.