PUP stands for Physically Unable to Perform, while IR stands for Injured Reserve.
Numerous players will receive these labels before the start of the NFL regular season as rosters are created and Week 1 of the new season is approaching. As the upcoming NFL campaign looks set to start, it's important to understand the various injury lists as well as other roster designations. Remember that players cannot longer be given the Physically Unable to Perform label once rosters are finalised.
Physically Unable to Perform (PUP)
A player who was on the Active/PUP list throughout training camp may be moved to the Reserve/PUP list if he isn't cleared to play by the end of the preseason. This bans him from participating in practice and games for the first six weeks of the NFL season.
Players can only be placed on the regular-season PUP list if they spent the entire summer on the Active/PUP list and never participated in a game or practise with their team.
A roster slot must be used for him or he must be placed on Injured Reserve (IR) to begin the season if an injured player is not placed on PUP at the start of the year.
Again, if a player is placed on PUP at the beginning of the regular season, they are ineligible to play until Week 7 of the regular season.
Players on the Reserve/PUP list are prohibited from participating in practices and games for the first six weeks of the regular season per rule. Teams have 21 days to decide whether to practise throughout that additional six-week window, if they want to do so:
- Activate the player and add him to the 53-man roster
- Waive or release the player
- Take no action and maintain his PUP status. A player might be held out and not activated until deep into December if teams make the most of all their windows, like the Cincinnati Bengals did with AJ McCarron in 2014
Injured Reseve (IR)
At the beginning of the season, NFL teams are allowed to list any number of players on Injured Reserve. Every player on the IR list counts toward the salary cap but not toward the 53-man roster restriction.
These athletes cannot play for the same team again during the respective season, but they are still free to be cut and sign with another one after being released. Although they are not permitted to practise with their squad at any time, these players are allowed to be present during team meetings.
The NFL modified the IR rules for the first time last year, in 2021, allowing two NFL players from each team to be eligible to leave the list after eight weeks.
FAQs
PUP stands for Physically Unable to Perform, while IR stands for Injured Reserve.
What does IR list mean in NFL? ›
The Reserve/Injured List, better known as injured reserve or IR, is a list for players who have suffered a football injury that makes them not immediately available to their team.
Do you still get paid on IR in NFL? ›
NFL players who are on IR (injured reserve) will get paid, but how much money they ultimately receive is highly dependent on the details of their individual contracts. Players with fully guaranteed contracts will receive the full compensation they were promised in their contract.
Do NFL players get paid on PUP list? ›
Players on the PUP list during the regular season are paid their salary, but it could be the lower “down” amount if they have a split contract. A player on the PUP list will not have their contract tolled unless they were in their final year of the contract and were not activated during the season.
How long do you stay on IR in the NFL? ›
Players stay on injured reserve for as long as they need to. A returning player is eligible to return to practice (or the active/inactive list) after four games have been played since he was placed on IR. They then have a four-week window to return to the active roster.
Is pup and IR the same? ›
PUP stands for Physically Unable to Perform, while IR stands for Injured Reserve. Numerous players will receive these labels before the start of the NFL regular season as rosters are created and Week 1 of the new season is approaching.
Can pup players go on IR? ›
If a player finishes preseason on the PUP list, they can be placed on the regular season PUP list. Players on the PUP list may not practice or play the first six weeks of the season. After the sixth week, the player must be allowed to return to practice, placed on injured reserved or released within five weeks.
Do IR players get Super Bowl rings? ›
The winning team can typically present any number of rings to whomever they choose, including usually, but not limited to: players (active roster, inactive roster, or injured reserve), coaches, trainers, executives, personnel, and general club staff.
What are the benefits of IR NFL? ›
The benefit of IR is it doesn't count toward a team's 53-man roster. So when a team moves a player from its active roster to IR, it opens up a 53-man roster spot. Once a player is placed on IR, they are unable to play in any games until being activated.
Why do teams put players on IR? ›
A player may be placed on injured reserve if he is unable to participate due to illness or injury, provided that the player had passed the club's initial physical examination at the start of the season.
Players placed on Injured Reserve are still a part of the team and partake in team activities. They're in the locker room, on the sidelines, and sometimes even travel with the team, so they also deserve credit for their contributions to the team's success.
How do NFL players get paid monthly? ›
NFL players are generally paid on a weekly basis during the regular season. According to reports, salaries are deposited into their bank accounts at the start of every week, however, the exact days when they get paid could vary.
What is the minimum salary in the NFL? ›
As per the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement established in March 2020, NFL players' minimum salary measured up to $660,000 in the 2021 season, which went up from $610,000 in 2020. The minimum salary is slated to rise to $750,000 in 2023. The salary went up $45k from last year.
How long can I keep a player in the IR spot? ›
Once a player is in your league's IR position, they can stay there for the entire season, even if they return to real-life action. However, once a player comes off the real-life IR, you won't be able to complete any transactions that involve adding a player to your team until you remove them from your team's IR.
How many players can an NFL team bring back from IR? ›
There is no maximum length for an IR stay over the 17-game, 18-week regular season. A player even can go on IR twice in one season. The only limit is that each team has a maximum of eight available slots for an IR player to return during that season.
Can you cut someone on IR? ›
Injured Reserve (IR)
These players are ineligible to play again for the same team during the current season, but they can be cut and then go on to sign with another team. These players may not practice with their team at any time, but can attend team meetings and be around the team.
What qualifies a player for IR? ›
1. When does a player go into IR? A player is put on IR when they can't perform and are "not immediately available for participation with a club," according to the NFL. There are several designations too, such as the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform), reserve/non-football injury, and reserve/non-football illness.
What is the difference between IR and out? ›
In most leagues, you are able to move a player into an IR spot once they have the 'Out' designation for any given week. However, once that player no longer has the Out designation, you most likely cannot make any roster moves until you've moved that player off the IR and back onto your Bench.
How does IR affect NFL salary cap? ›
Yes, NFL players on the injured reserve list (IR) count against the salary cap. Once the season has started, any player on either the 53-man roster, injured reserve list, and even the practice squad counts against the salary cap.
