The PUP list in football stands for "Physically Unable to Perform" and is a roster designation used in the National Football League (NFL) for players who suffered injuries during football-related activities prior to the start of training camp. Players on the PUP list may participate in team meetings and use team training and medical facilities, but cannot practice with their team. There are two separate PUP lists: an active PUP list used prior to the start of the regular season, and a reserve PUP list used during the regular season.
Players placed on the active/PUP list at the start of training camp have football-related injuries, like those on IR, but count against the active roster. These players can participate in all team activities other than practice and can be activated at any point during camp when they are medically cleared to practice. If a player practices, even once, during training camp, he must leave the PUP list. When a player is cleared to practice, it activates a 21-day window during which the player must be activated to the 53-man roster or be placed on season-ending injured reserve at the conclusion of that three-week period. They could also be released or traded.
The Reserve/PUP list takes effect when rosters are cut to 53. If a team chooses not to remove a player from the Active/PUP list before the roster cut deadline, he is then transferred to Reserve/PUP. That requires the player to miss a minimum of four games. Prior to the 2022 season, players on the PUP list to start the regular season had to miss at least six games.
