It used to be that there were multiple cutdown days for NFL rosters during the preseason. It was the norm to be headed into the final preseason game having already seen a big wave of cuts. No more.
These days there is one big cutdown to get teams from 90 players to 53. And it happens after the full slate of preseason games is done.
Cutdown date: Tuesday, August 27, 1pm Pacific (4pm ET)
Friday night is the Raiders final preseason game. They face the 49ers at 7pm Pacific (10pm ET) at Allegiant Stadium. And every healthy player who is on the roster bubble will play in the game so as to get one last opportunity to prove to their coaches — as well as coaches across the league — that they deserve a roster spot.
Who makes the roster won’t be dependent upon just how they perform in these games. Training camp performance will weigh more heavily. But if a player has looked good in camp and then balls out in from of the rest of the league in games, the Raiders may not want to risk waiving them for fear they wouldn’t make it to the practice squad.
