The NFL offseason is in full swing, with teams currently going through OTAs. That includes the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have made a lot of changes to their team this offseason.
The Steelers are working to get all their pieces to jell. However, they’ll have a little less time this year to cut their roster down to 53 players.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero shared on Twitter that the league has moved the deadline for teams to trim their rosters to 53 players. It’s now the 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 30. That’s right after the final preseason games end. The deadline used to be the following Tuesday.
The NFL informed teams recently that this year’s cutdown deadline to 53 players will be 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30 — not the following Tuesday, as it has been in recent years, sources say.
Waiver claims will be due at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 31. The season kicks off Sept. 9. pic.twitter.com/JW2KvevG3M
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 28, 2026
That means teams will have a few less days to finalize their rosters. The Steelers’ final preseason game comes against the Buffalo Bills on August 27. That still gives them a few days to analyze that final performance.
Previously, the NFL had four preseason games. The final matchup used to be a big opportunity for players to show why they belonged on official rosters. Since it got cut down to only three games, that’s changed a little bit, although every preseason games matters to those players whose roster spots aren’t safe.
While teams like the Steelers won’t have as much time to make a final decision on their rosters, there are some benefits to this date being moved. Waiver claims will be moved up as a result. Now, they’ll start at 1 p.m. ET the day after the deadline.
Sometimes, teams have to make tough decisions, cutting players who they’d rather keep. Waiver claims can be a good time to add depth at positions that teams don’t feel totally comfortable with.
However, the Steelers’ issue this year might be losing players they like. They drafted 10 players, and it might be tough for all of them to make the 53-man roster. The preseason will be important for them to show their worth.
This slight change to the NFL calendar shouldn’t be too big of a deal. It could even change again in the coming years if the NFL ends up adding another regular season game, which has been rumored for some time. The current cutdown date is still a few months away, though.
