Tomorrow's game is going to be a big deal for purposes of position battles as we are closing in on the end of the preseason. However, for the first time this preseason, we'll get some pretty quick feedback as the first official roster cuts are due by 1pm PT on Monday. NFL teams will have to cut down from 90 players to 75 players by that deadline. Some teams have already started making their roster cuts, but the 49ers, Broncos, Panthers and Jets will be waiting until after tomorrow's games.
The first 15 cuts are generally pretty low key. There will be some practice squad opportunities in that group, but I have to think the eventual eight-player practice squad will make it through the first round of cuts. After Monday, the next round of cuts are due by Friday at 6:00 p.m. PT. By that point the 49ers will cut down to their 53-man roster. The following day, the 49ers can begin signing free agents to their practice squad.
Just a reminder: to sign a player to the practice squad, they must clear waivers. That means, when the 49ers release players to cut down to 53, every other team has the opportunity to place a claim on those players and add them to their 53-man roster. If a team claims a player, they have to place them on their 53-man roster. To subsequently sign that player to the practice squad, that new team would have to waive him and hope he clears waivers.
August 27 -- Rosters must be reduced from 90 to 75 players by 1:00 p.m. ET
August 31 -- Roster cut-down to maximum of 53 players on Active/Inactive List prior to 6:00 p.m. PT. Clubs may dress minimum of 43 and maximum of 46 players for each regular season and postseason game.
September 1 -- Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 9:00 a.m. PT.
September 1 -- Beginning at 9:00 a.m. PT time, clubs may establish a Practice Squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free agency credit or who were on the 46-player Active List for less than nine regular season games during each of any Accrued Seasons. A player cannot participate on the Practice Squad for more than three seasons.