With the NFL going with three preseason games for the first time ever, it also means roster cuts will look a little different.
According to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, NFL owners approved a 90-man roster to start training camp this year with cuts to 85 players on Aug. 17, 80 players on Aug. 24 and then the initial 53-man rosters will be set on Aug. 31.
Those are all Tuesday's following the preseason games.
This means for the first time in a long time final rosters won't be set the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, just eight days before season openers. They will now be set a full 12 days before the season begins due to the off week between Week 3 of the preseason and Week 1 of the regular season.
Last year teams who went with 90 players had to split sessions during training camp due to COVID protocols and that does not seem to be the case this year.
Specific to the Patriots, their 53-man roster will be set two days after wrapping up the preseason against the Giants and then 12 days before they open the season against Miami.
