What's the difference between PUP list and IR? NFL designations explained

NFL players strive to be on their respective team's active roster throughout the whole offseason and during training camp. Being on the active roster isn't always simple, though, particularly in a physically demanding sport like this where injuries are a common occurrence.

As rosters are assembled and the first week of the new season draws near, many players will be placed on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) and IR (Injured Reserve) lists prior to the NFL regular season. The new NFL season is about to begin, and it's critical to recognize the distinctions between the two injury-related lists in addition to other designations.

Known by its official name as the reserve/injured list, the Injured Reserve list is also sometimes referred to as just "IR." When a player has a football-related injury and will be out for several weeks, the team places them on injured reserve. It should be noted that players on this list do not count toward the 53-man roster restriction, although they do count toward the salary cap.

A player could miss the entire season if placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the regular season. On the other hand, if a player is placed on injured reserve during the regular season, they must miss a minimum of four games.

Players added to the PUP list are required to have sustained football-related injuries at the beginning of training camp. These players count against the active roster.

Players on the PUP are eligible to take part in all team activities except practice, and once they receive a medical clearance, they can be activated off the list at any time throughout training camp.

What is the main difference between PUP and IR?

The time of a player's placement on each list is the primary distinction. A player needs to have been identified when they first arrived at training camp in order to be placed on the PUP list. When it comes to IR, the regulations are more permissive during the season but somewhat harsher offseason. A player is not eligible to be added back to the team's active roster if they are placed on injured reserve during training camp.

The PUP classification can be carried over into the regular season, but it must have been applied during training camp. The injured reserve (IR) designation is available for usage at any moment; however, for a player to be activated off it, he must have made it past the 53-man roster deadline.

What does the NFI list mean?

Another injury-related classification frequently utilized in the NFL is the NFI, an acronym for "non-football injury/illness." NFL players may be added to this list if they have an injury outside of football, such as from working out during the offseason or engaging in leisure activities, or if they have an illness unrelated to football.

Additionally, newly drafted players who are still recovering from injuries sustained during their college career are frequently added to the active/NFI list. A player may be transferred to the reserve/NFI list, which means missing the first four games of the season, if he is still on the active/NFI list following the final roster cuts.