| Year |
Lge |
Active |
Inactive |
Practice Squad |
Contract |
Cutdown Dates |
Trade Deadline |
Free Agency |
Injured Reserve |
Notes |
| 1920 |
APFA |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1921 |
APFA |
18 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1922 |
|
|
| 1922 |
NFL |
18 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1923 |
NFL |
16 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1924 |
|
|
| 1924 |
NFL |
18 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Limit increased on 7/26/1924 |
| 1925 |
NFL |
16 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1926 |
NFL |
18 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Limit increased on 2/7/1926 |
| 1927 |
NFL |
18 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1928 |
|
|
| 1928 |
NFL |
18 |
|
- |
|
|
|
9/1/1929 |
|
|
| 1929 |
NFL |
18 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1930 |
NFL |
20 |
|
- |
|
|
|
9/1/1931 |
|
Limit increased on 1/25/1930 |
| 1931 |
NFL |
22 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1932 |
|
Limited increased on 7/12/1931 |
| 1932 |
NFL |
20 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1933 |
|
Limit decreased on 7/10/1932 |
| 1933 |
NFL |
25/22* |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1934 |
|
25 games 1-2; 22 games 3+ |
| 1934 |
NFL |
25/22* |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1935 |
|
25 games 1-2; 22 games 3+ |
| 1935 |
NFL |
24 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1936 |
|
Waiver rule adopted 5/19/1935; limit increased on 9/4/1935 |
| 1936 |
NFL |
25/23* |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1937 |
|
Limit increased on 2/9/1936; 25 games 1-3; 23 games 4+ |
| 1937 |
NFL |
25 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1938 |
|
|
| 1938 |
NFL |
30 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Limit increased on 2/20/1938 |
| 1939 |
NFL |
30 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1940 |
|
|
| 1940 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1941 |
|
Limit inreased on 4/12/1940 |
| 1941 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1942 |
|
|
| 1942 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1943 |
|
|
| 1943 |
NFL |
28 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Free substitution adopted on 4/7/1943; limit decreased for one year on 8/25/1943 |
| 1944 |
NFL |
28 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1945 |
|
Limit retained for one year on 4/20/1944 |
| 1945 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1946 |
|
Limit increased on 9/15/1945 |
| 1946 |
AAFC |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
after third game |
8/1/1947 |
|
|
| 1946 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1947 |
|
Free substitution ended on 1/11/46 |
| 1947 |
AAFC |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1948 |
|
|
| 1947 |
NFL |
35/34* |
|
- |
|
|
|
5/1/1948 |
|
*35=games 1-3; 34=games 4-12 |
| 1948 |
AAFC |
35 |
|
- |
|
|
|
8/1/1949 |
|
|
| 1948 |
NFL |
35 |
|
- |
|
|
|
5/1/1949 |
|
Limit increased on 1/??/1948 |
| 1949 |
AAFC |
32 |
|
- |
|
|
|
6/1/1950 |
|
|
| 1949 |
NFL |
32 |
|
- |
|
|
|
6/1/1950 |
|
Limit decreased on 1/20/1949 |
| 1950 |
NFL |
32/33* |
|
- |
|
|
|
5/1/1951 |
Season |
Limit retained & free substitution adopted on 1/23/1950; *limit increased on 9/18/1950 |
| 1951 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
5/1/1952 |
|
Limit retained on 1/18/1951; no pre-opening game cutdowns. |
| 1952 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
5/1/1953 |
|
No pre-opening game cutdowns. |
| 1953 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
5/1/1954 |
|
No pre-opening game cutdowns. |
| 1954 |
NFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
|
|
5/1/1955 |
|
No pre-opening game cutdowns. |
| 1955 |
NFL |
35/33* |
|
- |
|
*35=games 1-2; 33=games 3-12 |
|
5/1/1956 |
|
No pre-opening game cutdowns. |
| 1956 |
NFL |
35/33* |
|
- |
|
*35=games 1-2; 33=games 3-12 |
|
5/1/1957 |
|
No pre-opening game cutdowns. |
| 1957 |
NFL |
35 |
|
- |
60 |
9/16=38; 9/25=35 |
|
5/1/1958 |
Season |
Contract limit adopted on 2/2/1957. |
| 1958 |
NFL |
35 |
|
- |
|
9/2=43; 9/15=38; 9/22=35 |
|
5/1/1959 |
|
|
| 1959 |
NFL |
36 |
|
- |
|
9/8=43; 9/15=38; 9/21=36 |
|
5/1/1960 |
|
Limit increased on 9/17/1959. |
| 1960 |
AFL |
35 |
|
- |
|
preseason=50; 8/23=43; 8/31=38; 9/6=35 |
|
5/1/1961 |
|
Limit increased from orginial limit of 33 on 8/25/1960. |
| 1960 |
NFL |
38* |
|
- |
|
9/6=43; 9/13=40; 9/25=38 |
|
5/1/1961 |
|
Limit increased from 36 on 9/8/1960; Dallas=42 |
| 1961 |
AFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
9/5=33 |
|
5/1/1962 |
Injured deferred list (30 days) |
Limit decreased to 33 on 1/13/1961 |
| 1961 |
NFL |
36 |
|
- |
|
8/29=43; 9/5=38; 9/12=36 |
|
5/1/1962 |
|
|
| 1962 |
AFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
8/21=43; 8/28=38; 9/4=33 |
|
5/1/1963 |
Injured deferred list (16 days?) |
Limit increased to 36 on 1/9/1962; reduced to 33 on 6/27/1962 |
| 1962 |
NFL |
36 |
|
- |
|
8/28=43; 9/4=38; 9/11=36 |
|
5/1/1963 |
|
No injured reserve? |
| 1963 |
AFL |
33 |
|
- |
|
8/27=38 |
|
5/1/1964 |
3 injured deferred list (16 days) |
|
| 1963 |
NFL |
37 |
|
- |
|
8/27=43; 9/3=38; 9/10=37 |
|
5/1/1964 |
4 games |
Limit increased on 5/22/1963 |
| 1964 |
AFL |
34 |
|
- |
|
9/1=38; 9/8=34 |
|
5/1/1965 |
2 injured deferred list |
Limited increased and injured deferred reduced on 1/18/1964 |
| 1964 |
NFL |
40 |
|
- |
|
9/1=43; 9/8=40 |
|
5/1/1965 |
|
Limit increased on 1/25/1964 |
| 1965 |
AFL |
38 |
|
- |
|
8/24=46; 8/31=43; 9/7=38 |
|
5/1/1966 |
2 injured deferred list |
|
| 1965 |
NFL |
40 |
unlimited* |
- |
|
8/24=49?; 8/31=47; 9/7=43; 9/14=40 |
|
5/1/1966 |
|
*"Taxi Squad" - made official on 2/18/1965 |
| 1966 |
AFL |
40 |
|
- |
|
8/16=48; 8/23=42; 8/30=40 |
|
5/1/1967 |
Injured deferred lists |
|
| 1966 |
NFL |
40* |
unlimited# |
- |
|
8/23=49 (ATL no cutdown); 8/30=43 (ATL no cutdown); 9/6=40 |
|
5/1/1967 |
Injured deferred list |
*ATL active=46 weeks 1-2; 42 weeks 3-14, but dress only 40 entire season. #"Taxi Squad" |
| 1967 |
AFL |
40 |
|
- |
|
8/22=46 8/29=43 9/5=40 |
|
5/1/1968 |
|
|
| 1967 |
NFL |
40 |
unlimited* |
- |
|
8/28=49; 9/4=43 (NO no cutdown);9/11=40 (NO=46); 9/25=42 (NO) |
|
5/1/1968 |
|
*"Taxi Squad"; No recall on last 5 players cut; NO cutdown is 9/11=46 & after game 2=42, but only 40 can dress |
| 1968 |
AFL |
40 |
|
- |
|
8/19=49; 8/26=43; 9/2=40 |
|
5/1/1969 |
|
|
| 1968 |
NFL |
40 |
13* |
- |
|
8/8?=60; 8/26=49; 9/2=43; 9/9=40 |
|
5/1/1969 |
Activated after clearing waivers |
No recall on last 5 players; 6 inactive moves; three reserve lists=military, retirement & injured; *"Taxi Squad" |
| 1969 |
AFL |
40 |
7* |
- |
|
7/31=60; 8/25=49; 9/1=44; 9/8=40 |
|
5/1/1970 |
|
*"Taxi Squad" |
| 1969 |
NFL |
40 |
7* |
- |
|
preseason?=60; 9/1=49; 9/8=44; 9/15=40 |
10/28 |
5/1/1970 |
|
*"Taxi Squad"; 10 inactive list moves and two-game minimum. |
| 1970 |
NFL |
40 |
7* |
- |
|
preseason?=60; 8/31=49; 9/7=44; 9/14=40 |
10/27 |
5/1/1971 |
|
*"Taxi Squad"; 10 inactive list moves and five-game minimum. Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform started. |
| 1971 |
NFL |
40 |
7* |
- |
|
8/5=60; 8/30=49; 9/6=44; 9/13=40 |
10/26 |
5/1/1972 |
|
*"Taxi Squad"; 12 inactive list moves and seven-game minimum. |
| 1972 |
NFL |
40 |
7* |
- |
|
8/8=60; 8/28=49; 9/4=44; 9/11=40 |
10/24 |
5/1/1973 |
|
*"Taxi Squad"; 12 inactive list moves. Reserve/Non-Football Injury started. |
| 1973 |
NFL |
40 |
7 |
- |
|
8/7=60 8/27=49; 9/3=44; 9/10=40; inactive list=9/13 |
10/23 |
5/1/1974 |
|
No inactive move list ("Taxi Squad") |
| 1974 |
NFL |
47 |
- |
- |
|
9/10=47 |
10/22 |
5/1/1975 |
|
Limit adopted on 9/3/1974 |
| 1975 |
NFL |
43 |
- |
- |
|
8/12=60; 8/26=55; 9/9=49; 9/15=43 |
|
5/1/1976 |
Season |
Limit reduced on 6/27/1975. 3 player IR limit? |
| 1976 |
NFL |
43* |
0 |
- |
|
8/10=60; 8/24=49 (SEA/TB=60); 9/6=43* |
10/19 |
3/1/1977 |
|
Limit adopted on 9/1/1976. *SEA/TB=49 weeks 1-2; 45 weeks 3-14 |
| 1977 |
NFL |
43 |
2 |
- |
unlimited |
8/9=60; 8/30=52; 9/6=48; 9/12=43; inactive list=9/15 |
10/25 |
2/1/1978 |
Season |
New CBA=3/1/1977; end of Rozelle Rule |
| 1978 |
NFL |
45 |
- |
- |
unlimited |
8/15=60; 8/22=50; 8/28=43 |
10/10 |
2/1/1979 |
Season |
3 players added to active rosrter after 8/28 cutdown |
| 1979 |
NFL |
45 |
- |
- |
unlimited |
8/14=60; 8/21=50; 8/27=45 |
10/9 |
2/1/1980 |
4 games |
3 IR activations (none for IR players before 8/27) |
| 1980 |
NFL |
45 |
- |
- |
unlimited |
8/19=60; 8/26=50; 9/1=45 |
10/14 |
2/1/1981 |
4 games |
3 IR activations (none for IR players before 9/1). |
| 1981 |
NFL |
45 |
- |
- |
unlimited |
8/18=60; 8/25=50; 8/31=45 |
10/13 |
2/1/1982 |
4 games |
3 IR activations (none for IR players before 8/31). |
| 1982 |
NFL |
45/49* |
4/0* |
- |
unlimited |
8/24=60; 8/31=50; 9/6=45 |
10/19 |
2/1/1983 |
4 games |
*45 active/4 inactive games 1-2; 49 active/0 inactive games 3-9. 3 IR activations (none for IR players before 9/6) |
| 1983 |
NFL |
45 |
- |
- |
unlimited |
8/16=60; 8/23=50; 8/29=45 |
10/11 |
2/1/1984 |
4 games |
3 IR activations (none for IR players before 8/29) |
| 1984 |
NFL |
49 |
- |
- |
unlimited |
8/14=70; 8/21=60; 8/27=49 |
10/9 |
2/1/1985 |
4 games |
5 IR activations (none for IR players before 8/27) |
| 1985 |
NFL |
45 |
- |
- |
unlimited |
8/20=60; 8/27=50; 9/2=45 |
10/15 |
2/1/1986 |
4 games |
5 IR actIvations (1 for IR players before 9/2) |
| 1986 |
NFL |
45 |
- |
- |
unlimited |
8/19=60; 8/26=50; 9/1=45 |
10/14 |
2/1/1987 |
4 games |
5 IR activations (1 for IR players before 9/1) |
| 1987 |
NFL |
45 |
40/10/5* |
- |
unlimited |
9/1=60; 9/7=45 |
10/20 |
2/1/1988 |
4 games |
*40 inactives for games 5-6, 10 for game 7, 5 for games 8-15. 8 IR activations (3 for IR players before 9/7). |
| 1988 |
NFL |
45 |
2 |
- |
unlimited |
8/23=60; 8/29=47 |
10/11 |
2/1/1989 |
4 games |
Limits adpoted on 5/25/1988. 5 IR activations (2 for IR players before 8/29). |
| 1989 |
NFL |
45 |
2 |
6* |
90; 80=6/1+ |
8/29=60; 9/4=47 |
10/17 |
2/1/1990 |
6 games |
Developmental squad created on 3/23/1989. 5 IR activations; IR before 9/4=season. Plan B proposed on 11/17/1988 & adopted 1/11/1989. |
| 1990 |
NFL |
45 |
2 |
3-5 |
training camp=80 |
8/28=60; 9/3=47 |
10/16 |
2/1/1991 |
4 games |
5 IR activations; IR before 9/3 are for entire season. Developemental squad abolished on 7/25/1990. Practice squad created on 9/25/1990. |
| 1991 |
NFL |
45+QB |
2 |
3-5 |
training camp=80 |
8/20=60; 8/26=47 |
10/8 |
2/1/1992 |
4 games |
5 IR activations; IR before 8/26 are for entire season. Plan B ended by courts on 9/10/1992. |
| 1992 |
NFL |
45+QB |
2 |
5? |
training camp=80 |
8/25=60; 8/31=47 |
10/13 |
3/1/1993 |
4 games |
5 IR activations; IR before 8/31 are for entire season. New CBA adopted on 1/6/1993. |
| 1993 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/24=60; 8/30=47; 8/31=53&PS |
10/19 |
2/17/1994 |
Season |
|
| 1994 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/23=60; 8/28=53; 8/29=PS |
10/11 |
2/17/1995 |
Season |
|
| 1995 |
NFL |
45+QB* |
8 |
5 |
80** |
8/22=60 (CAR/JAC=65); 8/27=53 (CAR/JAC=56); 8/28=PS |
10/10 |
2/16/1996 |
Season |
*CAR/JAC 56 weeks 1-3; 53 weeks 4+. **CAR/JAC=90 contract thru 8/22. |
| 1996 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/20=60; 8/25=53; 8/26=PS |
10/8 |
2/14/1997 |
Season |
|
| 1997 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/20=60; 8/25=53; 8/26=PS |
10/7 |
2/13/1998 |
Season |
|
| 1998 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/25=60; 8/30=53; 8/31=PS |
10/13 |
2/12/1999 |
Season |
|
| 1999 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/31=70; 9/5=53; 9/6=PS |
10/19 |
2/11/2000 |
Season |
No special rules for CLE. |
| 2000 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/22=65; 8/27=53; 8/28=PS |
10/10 |
3/2/2001 |
Season |
|
| 2001 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/28=65; 9/2=53; 9/3=PS |
10/16 |
3/1/2002 |
Season |
|
| 2002 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/27=65; 9/1=53; 9/2=PS |
10/15 |
2/28/2003 |
Season |
No special rules for HOU. |
| 2003 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/26=65; 8/31=53; 9/1=PS |
10/14 |
3/3/2004 |
Season |
|
| 2004 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
5 |
80 |
8/31=65; 9/5=53; 9/6=PS |
10/19 |
3/2/2005 |
Season |
|
| 2005 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
8 |
80 |
8/30=65; 9/4=53; 9/5=PS |
10/18 |
3/11/2006 |
Season |
|
| 2006 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
8 |
80 |
8/29=75; 9/2=53; 9/3=PS |
10/17 |
3/2/2007 |
Season |
|
| 2007 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
8 |
80 |
8/28=75; 9/1=53; 9/2=PS |
10/16 |
2/29/2008 |
Season |
|
| 2008 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
8 |
80 |
8/26=75; 8/30=53; 8/31=PS |
10/14 |
2/27/2009 |
Season |
|
| 2009 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
8 |
80 |
9/1=75; 9/5=53; 9/6=PS |
10/20 |
3/5/2010 |
Season |
|
| 2010 |
NFL |
45+QB |
8 |
8 |
80 |
8/31=75; 9/4=53; 9/5=PS |
10/19 |
7/26/2011 |
Season |
|
| 2011 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
8 |
90 |
8/30=80; 9/3=53; 9/4=PS |
10/18 |
3/13/2012 |
Season |
|
| 2012 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
8 |
90 |
8/27=75; 8/31=53; 9/1=PS |
10/16 |
3/12/2013 |
Season; one-player exception (four weeks) |
|
| 2013 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
8 |
90 |
8/27=75; 8/31=53; 9/1=PS |
10/29 |
3/11/2014 |
Season; one-player exception (four weeks) |
|
| 2014 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
10* |
90 |
8/27=75; 8/31=53; 9/1=PS |
10/28 |
3/10/2015 |
Season; one-player exception (four weeks) |
*Each team is allowed up to two players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad. |
| 2015 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
10* |
90 |
9/1=75; 9/5=53; 9/6=PS |
11/3 |
3/9/2016 |
Season; one-player exception (four weeks) |
*Each team is allowed up to two players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad. |
| 2016 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
10* |
90 |
8/30=75; 9/3=53; 9/4=PS |
11/3 |
3/9/2017 |
Season; one-player exception (four weeks) |
*Each team is allowed up to four players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad. |
| 2017 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
10* |
90 |
9/2=53; 9/3=PS |
10/31 |
3/14/2018 |
Season; one-player exception (four weeks) |
*Each team is allowed up to four players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad. |
| 2018 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
10* |
90 |
9/1=53; 9/2=PS |
10/30 |
3/13/2019 |
Season; one-player exception (four weeks) |
*Each team is allowed up to four players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad. |
| 2019 |
NFL |
46 |
7 |
10* |
90 |
8/31=53; 9/1=PS |
10/29 |
3/18/2020 |
Season; one-player exception (four weeks) |
*Each team is allowed up to four players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad. |
| 2020 |
NFL |
47/48* |
5*/6 |
16# |
90 |
9/5=53; 9/6=PS |
10/29 |
3/17/2021 |
Three weeks. |
*If eighth offensive lineman option used. #Each team is allowed up to six players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad and two game-day elevations. |
| 2021 |
NFL |
47/48* |
5*/6 |
16# |
90 |
8/17=85; 8/24=80; 8/31=53; 9/1=PS |
11/3 |
3/16/2022 |
Three weeks. |
*If eighth offensive lineman option used. #Each team is allowed up to six players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad and two game-day elevations. |
| 2022 |
NFL |
47/48* |
5*/6 |
16# |
90 |
8/16=85; 8/23=80; 8/30=53; 8/31=PS |
11/1 |
3/15/2023 |
Full season with eight exceptions. |
*If eighth offensive lineman option used. #Each team is allowed up to six players who would not normally qualify for the practice squad. |
