As teams trim their rosters to 53 players ahead of Week 1, one of the more peculiar terms in the NFL lexicon returns to the forefront: the PUP list.
“PUP” stands for physically unable to perform. It means a player isn’t allowed to practice (or play) because of an injury. Teams often use it as a roster maneuver to open a spot for another player when they know the player on the PUP list won’t be ready for the start of the season.
This August, several notable players recovering from injuries have landed and remained on the PUP list before Week 1 — ruling them out for at least the first four games of the season. That list includes:
Here are the ins and outs of what the PUP rules entail — and how they differ from the IR (injured reserve):
Follow our live updates from NFL roster cutdown day.
What is the active/PUP list?
A player can only be placed on the active/PUP list before the start of training camp. The player counts against the 90-man roster limit and can come off the PUP list at any point during camp and practice immediately. The player cannot return to the PUP list if he sustains a setback or another injury during training camp.
Players can participate in team meetings and use the team facilities during the preseason while on active/PUP. They can also work out on the side during practices, but they cannot participate in any portion of practice (walkthroughs, individual drills, seven-on-sevens, team drills, etc).
They must be placed on the reserve/PUP list, released, traded or placed on the 53-man roster by final roster cutdowns.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Sign Up
What is the reserve/PUP list?
A player must be placed on the reserve/PUP list by roster cutdown day (Tuesday). The player has to remain on the reserve/PUP list for at least the first four regular-season games. Once a player leaves the reserve/PUP list, he has up to 21 days to return to the 53-man roster. He can practice with the team until he’s taken off the list. If the player still isn’t able to play in games after the 21-day span, he’ll stay on the reserve/PUP list for the rest of the season.
A player placed on the reserve/PUP list before or during training camp is out for the season. The New Orleans Saints did that with right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, who had knee surgery in the offseason.
What’s the difference between reserve/PUP and injured reserve?
Teams can put a player on injured reserve with a designation to return at any point throughout the regular season and postseason. A player who lands on injured reserve can also return after four games, but with a couple of caveats.
A new rule this year allows teams to place up to two players on IR on roster cutdown day with a designation to return. This rule ended some cut-day roster gymnastics; in the past, if a team wanted to put a player on injured reserve and keep the option open for a return, he had to make the initial 53-man roster and then get moved to IR the next day.
Teams are allowed to have eight players return to the 53-man roster from IR. A player is allowed to return from injured reserve a maximum of twice in a season, but each return would count against the eight-player allotment.
Teams can open up a 21-day window for players to practice while on IR. Those players must be added to the active roster by the end of that window, or they will miss the rest of the season.
Required reading
(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
