On Thursday, the NFL announced a change in their roster cutdown deadline. In 2026, NFL rosters must be trimmed to 53 players by Sunday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. CT. This is a change over recent years, when the cutdown day was the Tuesday after the final weekend of preseason games. Additionally, waiver claims will be due by Noon CT on Monday, Aug. 31. The first NFL regular season game is on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and the Saints kick off their season against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13.
NFL teams may still carry a full training camp roster of 90 players until the mandatory cutdown day. That change was made several years prior, when their were multiple cut days during training camp. Now, NFL coaches must make their roster a few days earlier than compared to recent years.
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For the Saints, their initial 53-man roster must be set two days after their final preseason outing. The Saints kick off their preseason on Sunday, Aug. 15 at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars before visiting the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Aug. 22. They’ll close out the preseason on Friday, Aug. 28 and have a couple of days to make tough decisions on the opening-day roster.
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2026 Saints Schedule: Previewing Week 2 road matchup vs Ravens
Week 2 at Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 20, Noon CT
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2026 Saints Schedule: Previewing Week 2 road matchup vs Ravens
Week 2 at Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 20, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 3 vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 27, 3:25 p.m. CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 4 vs. Atlanta Falcons, Monday, Oct. 5, 7:15 p.m. CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 5 vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 11, Noon CT
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Pivot points: Six games that could decide Saints’ 2026 season
Week 6 at New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 18, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 7 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (in Paris, France), 8:30 a.m. CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 8 on bye
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 9 vs. Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 8, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 10 vs. Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 8, Noon CT
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Pivot points: Six games that could decide Saints’ 2026 season
Week 11 at Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 22, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 12 at Cincinnati Bengals, Nov. 29, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 13 vs. Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 6, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 14 at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 13, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 20, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 16 vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 27, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 17 at Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Jan. 3, Noon CT
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New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule
Week 18 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TBD
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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL announces a change in their 53-man roster cuts deadline