While NFL roster cuts have all been made for the 2025 season, that is only one step in finalizing a 53-man roster. With over 1,000 players no longer employed, NFL teams will spend 24 or more hours perusing the list of available players to add to both their 53-man roster and their practice squad. Things get underway on Wednesday afternoon, and considering the Detroit Lions’ initial roster only sits at 50 players, expect Wednesday to be an active day for them—as we have already seen.
So here’s a little reminder of how the second step in roster management works during cutdown week.
Who is on the waiver wire?
When cut, a player is either “waived” or “released.” If a player has four or more “credited seasons”* in the NFL, they are considered a veteran and are released, meaning they are not subject to waivers and can sign anywhere they please immediately.
If a player has fewer than four credited seasons, they are waived. This means they must go on the waiver wire, where any team can submit a waiver claim for them, pick up their current contract, and immediately add them to their 53-man roster.
If you look at the Lions’ roster cuts list, they have designated 29 players as waived:
- QB Hendon Hooker
- RB Deon Jackson
- RB Jacob Saylors
- TE Zach Horton
- TE Gunnar Oakes
- TE Steven Stilianos
- WR Jackson Meeks
- WR Jakobie Keeney-James
- WR Ronnie Bell
- OL Gunner Britton
- OL Zack Johnson
- OL Mason Miller
- OL Michael Niese
- EDGE Nate Lynn
- EDGE Mitchell Agude
- EDGE Isaac Ukwu
- EDGE Ahmed Hassanein (injury settlement)
- DT Keith Cooper Jr.
- DT Brodric Martin
- LB DaRon Gilbert
- CB Luq Barcoo
- CB Allan George
- CB D.J. Miller
- CB Tyson Russell
- CB Nick Whiteside
- S Erick Hallett
- S Ian Kennelly
- S Morice Norris
- S Loren Strickland
*A “credited season” means a player has been on a 53-man roster for at least three games. If a player receives full pay for a season but is not on the 53-man roster (ie: on IR) that also counts toward a credited season.
How do waiver claims work?
During roster cuts, teams have until 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday to put in a waiver claim for any players who were waived by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. When the clock hits noon, the NFL will go through every waiver claim and award players to teams that put in claims. If more than one team submitted a claim for the same player, the team with the highest waiver priority will be awarded the player.
How is priority determined?
At this point in the offseason, priority is based on last year’s record or the 2025 NFL Draft order (prior to trades). The worst NFL team (Titans) has the highest priority, and the best (Eagles) has the lowest. The Lions are 28th in waiver priority.
Starting in Week 4 of the regular season, waiver priority is determined by the current season’s standings.
What if a team that wins a claim doesn’t have a roster spot open?
Because a claimed player must go on the team’s 53-man roster, the team that wins a waiver claim must make a corresponding move immediately if a roster spot isn’t already open.
Can a team claim an injured player?
It is extremely rare, but the answer is yes. So the Lions waiving Ahmed Hassanein is a minor risk.
When will we hear about waiver claims?
Typically, right around noon ET on Wednesday, when the NFL processes them.
What if a player goes unclaimed?
That player becomes an unrestricted free agent who can sign to any team’s 53-man roster or practice squad.
Who qualifies for the practice squad?
In short, everyone. However, there are some limitations on the type of players you can keep on a practice squad. A practice squad has a maximum of 16 players allowed on it. Of those 16:
- A maximum of 6 can have unlimited accrued* seasons
- A maximum of 10 players who have earned no more than two accrued seasons
- Teams can also have a 17th player on their practice squad, should that player qualify for the International Pathway Program
*An accrued season is different than a “credited” season. A player accrues a season if they are on a 53-man roster (or paid like one) for six games, not just three.
When will teams start filling out their practice squad?
Teams are permitted to start building out their practice squad at noon ET on Wednesday after the waiver claims have been awarded.
Where can I see the Lions’ practice squad?
Just before the noon ET deadline for waiver claims, we will post a tracker that will have a full list of the Lions’ waiver claims, practice squad signings, and Lions cuts who signed or were claimed elsewhere. Here’s what last year’s tracker looked like.
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