NFL 2023 Regular Season Primer

Article ByKyle Garlett

August 30, 2023

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Posted in: US Sports Betting News, US Gambling News

The current NFL collective bargaining agreement says that the final day of preseason training camp is Sunday, September 3. But Tuesday was the deadline for getting rosters down to the 53-man maximum, effectively ending the preseason, and getting us ready for the 2023 NFL regular season.

Kickoff Weekend

Since 2002, the season has started with the NFL Kickoff Game, played on the Thursday before the first Sunday of the regular season. In 2004, it became tradition for the reigning Super Bowl champions to host the game, and this year is no different. On September 7 the Detroit Lions will visit the Kansas City Chiefs, the winners of Super Bowl LVII.

On Sunday, September 10, there are 14 regular season kickoff games scheduled, and on September 11, the first Monday Night Football game of the season will be played. That game will feature the Buffalo Bills at Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.

International Series

In Week 4, the NFL will begin its series of five international games.

October 1, the Atlanta Falcons will play the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London. The following Sunday, October 8, the Jaguars will make it two straight in London, and play the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The final game in London on October 15 is between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans, and also at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

On November 5, the International Series shifts to Frankfurt Stadium in Germany, where the Miami Dolphins will play the Kansas City Chiefs. October 12, the series concludes for the year with the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, also playing in Frankfurt.

Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List

Beginning on the day after a team’s Week 4 game, players on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP), Reserve, or Non-Football Injury list (think Kyler Murray and Jonathan Taylor), may begin practicing with their teams. They have a five-week window to begin practicing, or spend the rest of the season on the PUP list.

Once they do begin practicing, that activates a 21-day window in which the player must be activated to the 53-man roster. If he is not activated during that window, he will spend the rest of the season on the PUP or reserve list.

Bye Weeks

The first bye weeks of the 2023 season will occur in Week 5. Between Week 5 and Week 7, 12 teams will have their byes. Between Week 9 and Week 11 another 12 teams will have their bye weeks. Over Week 13 and 14, the remaining eight teams will have their byes.

Trade Deadline

The NFL trade deadline isn’t nearly as active as we see in other sports. But last year, we did see Christian McCaffrey get traded to the 49ers, T.J. Hockenson was moved to the Minnesota Vikings, and Bradley Chubb was traded to the Miami Dolphins.

The deadline for all in-season trades in the NFL is October 31 at 4 p.m. New York time, the home of the league office.

Accrued and Credited Seasons

With a number of players currently holding out, it’s worth looking at the deadlines for players to earn accrued seasons and credited seasons.

In order to get an accrued season, a player must be on the IR, PUP, or active roster for a total of six games. It does not matter if the games are regular season or postseason. But since playoff games are not a guarantee, Week 11 is the magic date.

Accrued seasons determine the status of an exclusive rights free agent, a restricted free agent, and unrestricted free agent.

To earn a credited season, a player must be on the IR, PUP, or active roster for a total of three games, regular or postseason. This is important for players fulfilling a contract, as well as for player benefits through the NFL Player Assn, like pensions and health insurance.

So if you’re wondering, the holdouts of Nick Bosa and Chris Jones could last for quite some time.

Regular Season Ends

The final weekend of the regular season is Saturday, January 6, and Sunday, January 7. Because of flexible scheduling, we won’t know which teams will play on which days and times until December.