Preseason football is over and NFL teams are juggling roster decisions like never before. A big part of that process involves designations like the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP) and Injured Reserve (IR). These terms get thrown around a lot, but the differences between them can have an impact on who’s available once the regular season starts.
Let’s review the key points for both the PUP list and IR…
The Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List
There are two types of PUP: active/PUP and reserve/PUP.
- Active/PUP is for players who report to training camp with an injury and aren’t cleared to practice yet. They still count against the 90-man roster and can come off this list at anytime during the preseason once they pass their physical.
- Reserve/PUP comes into play if a player still isn’t ready for Week 1. A player who stays on PUP when the 53-man roster is finalized must miss at least the first four games of the season. After that, teams have a five-week window to bring the player back to practice and 21 days after returning to practice to be named to the 53-man roster or revert to reserve, ending their 2025 season.
The key thing to know here: a player
must start training camp on the PUP list to be eligible for it. If a player gets hurt during training camp or preseason, this option isn’t available.
Injured Reserve (IR)
The IR rules have changed in recent years, so here’s the current setup:
- A player placed on IR before cut-down day is finalized cannot return this season. That move is essentially a season-ending designation unless a injury settlement is reached.
- A player placed on IR after final cuts (making the 53-man roster) can return, but they must miss at least four games before being eligible. Each team can have eight designations to return throughout the season, but each player can only return twice.
- Up to two Players can be placed on IR prior to establishing the 53-man roster with a designation to return. The two players designated to return also count against the eight IR return designations allowed throughout the regular season.
The big difference from PUP: IR can be used for injuries that happen during training camp or preseason, whereas PUP is only for guys hurt before camp started.
How PUP/IR factors in for the Buffalo Bills
For a team like the Bills, navigating these lists is all about flexibility. If a player is banged up prior to the season but could realistically be back early in the season, IR is the route. If they’re still recovering from something that lingered before training camp and they still haven’t played or practiced, PUP/Reserve is on the table.
It’s a numbers game as well, because using one of these lists can free up a roster spot that might help Buffalo keep extra depth at another position. Determining whether or not they will be one of the two designations is a big decision and only one they should use if they know the player will return. That’s because the two designations count against a teams total allowed.
This option affords the Bills to make two less cuts on cut-down day. For example, using the two “Return to Play” designations before cut-downs will allow the team to not have carry those two players onto the 53 and forcing them to cut another player in the meantime and risk them being claimed off waivers for a day before bringing them back.
IR Potential with designation to return option
Maxwell Hairston (Rookie CB)
- Recovering from an LCL sprain but progressing. The team doesn’t expect to use IR, and he should avoid it if he’s ready for Week 1.
Tre’Davious White (CB)
- Left practice on August 21 with a lower-body injury. No official status yet, but it’s enough to raise concern. If cleared quickly, he will stay active; if not, IR with a return designation becomes an option. Doing so on cutdown day and designating him to return would maximize roster flexibility, but teams only get two of those designations.
Cole Bishop (Safety)
- Missed a chunk of camp but is back now. IR feels unlikely unless the staff thinks he’s still too far behind to contribute early. If so, they could IR him on cutdown day with a designation to return if he still needs time.
Darrynton Evans (RB)
- Already on IR with a hamstring issue. Most likely an injury settlement followed by a potential practice-squad spot later if he remains unsigned (settlement weeks + 3 additional weeks before eligible). If no settlement, Evans will remain on IR for the 2025 season.
IR / Out for Season
Te’Cory Couch (DB)
Kaden Prather (WR)
Jalen Virgil (WR)
- Waived/Injured and went unclaimed off waivers and will revert to the Bills IR. The Bills can keep them there or choose to come to an injury settlement.
Physically Unable to Perform Reserve
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C)
- Listed on the PUP – He will be moved to PUP/Reserve and hopefully be able to begin practicing after week four.
PUP/IR: What’s the Bottom line?
When you hear “PUP” or “IR” in the coming days, think timing. Was the player already injured when camp began (PUP)? Or did the injury happen during training camp or preseason (IR)? And just as important, should the move happen before the 53-man roster is finalized were they designated to return.
If they made the 53-man roster and then go on IR, they don’t need a designation until they’re ready to return to practice. All of those small details determine whether a player misses four games… or the whole season.
