NFL teams have until Tuesday (8/26) at 3:00 p.m. Central to submit their initial 53-man rosters for the 2025 season, and the clubs have already begun making transactions.
Our Chicago Bears transaction tracker is below if you want to skip ahead, but if you want some pertinent roster construction info, then read on.
When players are released, all vested veterans — players with four or more accrued seasons of service in the league — will become free agents, while players with less than four years of service will go
through waivers. Once players clear waivers, they are eligible to be signed to a team’s 16-man practice squad. A 17th spot is available if he player qualifies and is designated as an International Player.
The claiming period for players who are placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 11:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday, August 27. At that point, teams will begin signing players for their practice squads.
Any players claimed on waivers will need to be added to a club’s 53-man roster.
Just like last year, teams do not need to put an injured player on the 53-man roster before moving them to injured reserve the next day. Teams can place up to two players on injured reserve (with a designation to return) while establishing the 53-man roster on Tuesday. Those two players would count toward the eight that each team is allowed to designate for return from IR.
The emergency third quarterback rule remains as it was in 2024. A QB must be on the active 53-man roster to take advantage of the inactive emergency quarterback on game days.
TRANSACTION TRACKER
- Bears will release wide receiver Samori Toure. (link)
Since teams have already begun cutting players, if you see a player you’d like the Bears to sign or claim, share it in the comment section.
