What Is The NFL PUP List? How Does The PUP List Work In Training Camp? 2024 NFL Outlook

July 23, 2024

Tony Camino explains what the NFL PUP list is and how it works for every team. He looks into the process in hopes of offering fantasy football managers insight.

As NFL teams prepare to begin training camp for the 2024 season, many are placing players on various lists to ensure a smooth start to practice.

These lists include the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. The NFI list is designated for players who suffer injuries outside of football activities.

Notable players such as Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs, Jaguars DL Arik Armstead, Chiefs OL Joe Thuney, Saints OT Ryan Ramczyk, and others are slated to start camp on the PUP list. What exactly is the PUP list, and when can players on it be activated to return to the field? Let's address those questions.

What Is The NFL PUP List?

The Physically Unable to Perform list, or PUP list, is for players who are recovering from offseason surgeries or other injuries suffered before the start of training camp. Any player placed on the PUP list counts against the 90-man training-camp roster.

Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Expected To Start Camp On PUP List https://t.co/sfrv2FCr60

— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) July 22, 2024

Players on the PUP cannot participate in practice with the team, but they are permitted to work on the side and attend meetings and walk-throughs. They can be removed from the PUP list at any time, but once they are off, they cannot be placed back on the list even if they are injured.

How Does The NFL PUP List Work?

There are two different types of PUP lists: the active/PUP and the reserve/PUP. When teams cut their rosters down to 53 players (August 30 this season), those on the active/PUP list either have to be activated or moved to the reserve/PUP list.

If a player is moved to the reserve/PUP list, they are forced to miss the first four games of the regular season at least. Once a player is removed from the reserve/PUP, teams have 21 days to move him to the 53-man roster. The player can practice with the team at this time until he's off the list.

Clarity on #Saints OT Ryan Ramczyk, via the NFL rules: He is now out for the season, officially, after being placed on reserve/PUP today.

Why? A vested veteran placed on Reserve/PUP prior to the final roster reduction is out for the season. Players placed on Reserve/PUP at the…

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 18, 2024

Following those 21 days, the player would have to miss the entirety of the season if he's not activated. For vested veterans like Ramczyk, they miss the entire season regardless if placed on the reserve/PUP list before final roster cuts.

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