NFL's PUP list explained: What it means and why it matters in training camp

Training camp season is upon us! A handful of NFL teams have already reported with their respective teams with many more set to join them this week.  And do you know what that means? We'll be hearing all about training camp battles, surprise underdogs rising through the ranks, and veterans on the hot seat. But […]

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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NFL logo on playing field. What is the PUP list?

Training camp season is upon us! A handful of NFL teams have already reported with their respective teams with many more set to join them this week. 

And do you know what that means? We'll be hearing all about training camp battles, surprise underdogs rising through the ranks, and veterans on the hot seat. But it will also mean a whole lot of news about players going into the "PUP list."

And many of you might be wondering: What does the NFL's "PUP list" mean and how does it work? 

In short, it stands for "Physically Unable to Perform." It's a designation for injured players who can't practice as a result of football-related injuries. While they can participate in other activities, they're not allowed to practice.

It's most common to hear about "PUP" at this time of the year as training camps kick off because its importance diminishes once the regular season starts as at that stage it becomes more about the Injured Reserve (IR) more than anything else. 

To fully understand PUP, we must clarify there are two types of PUP lists. We'll break them down below.

Active/PUP list

  • NFL players on the list can't practice.
  • Players are placed on the list during training camp.
  • They do count toward the 90-man roster limit while on the list.
  • Can be removed from the list at any time during camp. If so, a player can't go back into PUP.
  • Must be counted toward the 53-man roster on final roster cutdowns or placed on Reserve/PUP, released, or traded.

Reserve/PUP list

  • NFL players on the list can't practice.
  • Players must miss at least the team's first four games of the regular season. 
  • As opposed to the Active/PUP list, players on this list stop counting toward the roster limit.
  • Must be on the list by the 53-man roster cutdown deadline.

Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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