Injury happened on the football or practice field.
NFI List - Non Football Related Injuries
Injury did not happen on the football or practice field (college football game or practice, preparation for the draft, private workout etc).
Player can be activated at any time. If a player is not activated at the end of Pre Season the FO can put the player on Reserve PUP/NFI (not allowed to practice or play during the first 6 weeks of the season).
After the sixth week of the regular season the FO has a six week window to either let the player participate in Practice again, put the player on Injured Reserve or Release the player. If the player returns to practice the FO has another three week window to either Activate the player ( 53 man roster ) or to finally put the player on Injured Resere.
A player needs to start TC on the Active PUP / NFI List to become eligible for the Reserve PUP / NFI List at the end of TC. If a player participates in practice during TC, even if it´s only for a few minutes, all PUP and NFI List options are off the table.
Injured Reserve List
A player must have a severe injury to be put on this list. 1 player can be activated from this list (Designated To Return). The rest is not allowed to play for the remainder of the season (regular season + post season).
Designated To Return
Following the cutdown to 53 players the Reserve/Injured rule will work as follows:
1. Only players with a major injury who are placed on Reserve/Injured after 4:00 p.m., New York time September 4, or thereafter during the season, will be eligible to be reactivated at a later time.
2. A major injury is defined as an injury that renders the player unable to practice or play football for at least six weeks (42 calendar days) from the date of injury.
3. Each team may reactivate only one player placed on Reserve/Injured after 4:00 p.m., New York time September 4. That player must be designated for return at the time the club places him on Reserve/Injured, and such designation shall appear on that day's Personnel Notice.
4. Such player is eligible to return to practice if he has been on Reserve/Injured for at least six weeks from the date he is placed on Reserve. He is eligible to return to the Active List if he has been on Reserve/Injured for at least eight weeks from the date he is placed on Reserve.
A Player On The Reserve PUP/ NFI Or Injured Reserve List
- does not count against the 53 man roster
- can participate in team meetings
- can take advantage of the training + medical facilities
- is not allowed to practice with the Team
[ Edited by DeUh on Jul 30, 2015 at 5:37 AM ]