Saints News Network

Important NFL Calendar Dates for the Saints

A look at all the important dates for the Saints that will take us to Week 1's season opener against the Packers.

John Hendrix

The NFL released a full calendar of events on Wednesday evening, which takes things into April 2022 with the draft. A month ago, we put together some of the relevant dates for the Saints, and have updated it through Week 1 to include practice squad details and fan practices. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the team's practice guidelines, as they are ticketed and limited. 

All times are central.

July

  • July 15: At 3:00 p.m., deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension (Marcus Williams). After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2021 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.
  • July 25: Saints rookies and injured players report to training camp.
  • July 27: Saints veterans report to training camp. 29 teams (excludes Buccaneers, Cowboys, and Steelers) report, 47 days before the Sunday of Week 1, as allowed by the CBA.
  • July 30: Open Saints Practice Session 1 (9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
  • July 31: Open Saints Practice Session 2 (9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

August

  • August 5: Open Saints Practice Session 3 (9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
  • August 5: Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio. featuring the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers at 7 p.m.
  • August 6: Open Saints Practice Session 4 (9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
  • August 7: Open Saints Practice Session 5 (9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
  • August 7-9: Hall of Fame Weekend, Canton, Ohio.
  • August 12-16: First Preseason Weekend.
  • August 14: Preseason Game 1, Saints at Ravens (6 p.m., FOX/Gray Comm).
  • August 17: NFL clubs are required to cut down to 85 players by 3 p.m.
  • August 19-23: Second Preseason Weekend.
  • August 20: Open Saints Practice Session 6 (9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
  • August 21: Open Saints Practice Session 7 (9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
  • August 23: Preseason Game 2, Jaguars at Saints (7 p.m., ESPN)
  • August 24: NFL clubs are required to cut down to 80 players by 3 p.m.
  • August 26-29: Third Preseason Weekend.
  • August 28: Preseason Game 3, Cardinals at Saints (7 p.m., FOX/Gray Comm)
  • August 31: NFL clubs are required to cut down to 53 players by 3 p.m. Simultaneously with the roster reduction to 53 players, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/NonFootball Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; terminate or request waivers with the designation of Failed Physical or Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.

September

  • September 1: Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 3 p.m.
  • September 1: Upon receipt of the Personnel Notice, clubs may establish a Practice Squad, subject to the applicable limits negotiated for the 2021 season. No club, including the player’s prior club, will be permitted to sign a player to a practice player contract until all clubs have received simultaneous notification via the above Personnel Notice that such player’s prior NFL player contract has been terminated via the waiver system.
  • September 1: Beginning at 3 p.m., any player placed on Reserve/Injured or Reserve/NonFootball Injury or Illness during the regular season or postseason, may be designated for return later in the season, subject to the applicable procedures negotiated for the 2021 season.
  • September 5: Final day of preseason training camp for all clubs.
  • September 9: Regular Season Week 1 starts, Cowboys vs. Buccaneers at 7:20 p.m.
  • September 12: Packers vs. Saints at 3:25 p.m.

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John Hendrix
JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net

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