RVRosterVerdict

RosterVerdict Methodology

RosterVerdict Methodology

This is the index for every RosterVerdict methodology article and football reference guide.

Start with the short guides below, then use the anchored tables when you need to check what a player status or transaction means in plain language.

The complete index

Every methodology article in one place

Each page explains what a measure means, why it matters, how to read it, and where its limits are. Exact formulas, weights, thresholds, and internal processing rules stay private.

Core roster model

The pages that explain the central roster question and its team-level answer.

Player evaluation

The components that help explain a player's expected value and role.

Context and trust

How to place a roster result in competition, evidence, and update context.

Football reference guides

Plain-language explanations of the states and events readers see across the site.

Reference table

Player roster statuses

A roster status tells us where a player is held. It does not answer every availability question by itself. Game-day decisions and official availability information are separate layers.

Every row has a stable anchor. For example, link to #player-active-roster to take a reader directly to Active roster.

Plain-language roster status guide
Status or typeWhat it meansWhat it means for the next game
Roster lists
Active rosterOn the club's main roster and available for ordinary roster use.Can play if no separate game-day or availability restriction applies.
Offseason rosterUnder team control during the offseason, before the regular-season list is set.Not automatically eligible for the next game; the club must place the player on an eligible list.
Practice squadDeveloping or depth player who is not on the main active roster.Cannot play unless elevated or signed to an eligible roster.
Practice squad injuredPractice-squad player held out because of an injury-related status.Cannot play while in this status.
Practice squad NFIPractice-squad player unavailable for a non-football injury or illness.Cannot play while in this status.
On waiversThe club has made the player available for the league's waiver process.Cannot play for the club until the process ends and an eligible status is established.
Waived/injuredWaived player whose injury status keeps him in a separate process.Not available to play for the former club.
Injury and return lists
Active/PUPOn the offseason roster with a physical limitation that prevents practice.Cannot play while this status remains.
Active/NFIOn the offseason roster with a non-football injury or illness.Cannot play while this status remains.
Injured reserveOn a reserve list because of an injury, with a possible return path under league rules.Cannot play unless activated; a practice window alone is not activation.
Reserve/PUPOn the reserve physically unable to perform list.Cannot play until activated.
Reserve/NFIOn the reserve non-football injury or illness list.Cannot play until activated.
Contract and rights
Free agentNot currently controlled by an NFL club.Cannot play until signed and placed on an eligible roster.
Unrestricted free agentFree agent who can generally negotiate with any club.Cannot play until signed and placed on an eligible roster.
Restricted free agentFree agent whose former club may retain certain rights under the applicable tender.Cannot play until the contract and roster status make him eligible.
Exclusive rights free agentFree agent whose negotiating rights are limited by his service history and tender.Cannot play until signed and placed on an eligible roster.
Rights heldA club controls the player's NFL rights, but he is not necessarily on a roster list.Rights alone do not make him eligible for the next game.
Drafted, unsignedThe club holds the player's draft rights, but his rookie contract is not complete.Cannot play until signed and placed on an eligible roster.
Tendered, unsignedThe club has made a tender offer that has not yet become a signed contract.Cannot play until the contract and roster status are complete.
Administrative and career statuses
Reserve/SuspendedA league or club suspension blocks participation.Cannot play during the suspension.
Commissioner Exempt ListLeague authority has removed the player from ordinary participation.Cannot play while exempt.
ExemptA temporary administrative permission or exemption changes ordinary roster handling.Not automatically eligible; the specific exemption and game status control.
Exempt/Left SquadTemporarily away from the club under an administrative roster status.Cannot play unless the status is removed and the player is otherwise eligible.
Reserve/Did Not ReportThe player has not reported as required and is held in a reserve status.Cannot play while this status remains.
Reserve/Left SquadThe player is away from the club under a reserve designation.Cannot play while this status remains.
Reserve/MilitaryA military obligation keeps the player in a reserve status.Cannot play while this status remains.
Reserve/RetiredThe player is recorded as retired while the club retains a related reserve record.Cannot play unless reinstated.
RetiredThe player has ended his playing career in the current record.Cannot play unless a later reinstatement makes him eligible.
Not under NFL contractNo current NFL contract or club-control relationship is recorded.Cannot play until signed and rostered.
Historical records
Reserve/COVID-19A historical reserve designation retained for past seasons.Historical only; it does not decide a current game's eligibility.
Reserve/Opt OutA historical season opt-out designation.Historical only; unavailable for that season's games.
Current and game-specific records
Active for the gameThe official game-day list includes the player for one specific game.Can play that game.
Inactive for the gameThe official game-day list excludes the player for one specific game.Cannot play that game; the designation expires afterward.
ElevatedA practice-squad player is temporarily moved into a game-eligible role.Game-specific and conditional; the player reverts after the game unless another move is made.
UnknownThe available evidence does not establish a reliable current status.Status unresolved; never treated as available.

Reference table

Availability and next-game status

Practice reports, medical updates, pregame designations, and game-day decisions describe availability. A full practice or medical clearance is useful evidence, but neither one is a promise that the player will play.

Plain-language availability guide
Status or typeWhat it meansWhat it means for the next game
Eligibility and practice
EligibleNo known medical, disciplinary, or administrative barrier is recorded.May play, but a later game-day decision can still make him inactive.
Eligible, not guaranteed activeThe player may play, but the club has not promised a game-day active spot.May play if active for the game.
Full practiceThe player completed a full practice on a reported day.Helpful evidence, but not proof that he will play.
Limited practiceThe player practised with a reported limitation.May still play; the final game status decides.
Did not practiseThe player did not participate in that practice report.Not automatically out; the game designation is separate.
Practice window openA player on a reserve list may practise while the return window is open.Cannot play until activated.
Pregame designations
QuestionableThe official pregame report leaves the player's participation uncertain.May play, but not guaranteed.
DoubtfulThe official pregame report makes participation unlikely.Usually cannot be expected to play; final designation controls.
OutThe official pregame report rules the player out for that game.Cannot play that game.
Not expected to play (reported)A report predicts that the player will not play, but it is not an official designation.Not enough on its own to answer game eligibility.
Concussion protocolThe player is in an official medical evaluation process.Cannot be assumed available until the process and game status permit it.
Medically clearedA medical barrier has been removed or a clearance has been recorded.Clearance alone does not activate or dress the player.
Game-day and in-game
Active for the gameThe official game-day list includes the player for one specific game.Can play that game.
Inactive for the gameThe official game-day list excludes the player for one specific game.Cannot play that game; the designation expires afterward.
Active, did not playThe player was active and dressed but took no snap.He was eligible; this is not an unavailability status.
Ruled outThe player was removed from participation during the game.Cannot play the rest of that game.
Doubtful to returnAn in-game update makes a return unlikely.Usually unavailable for the rest of that game.
Questionable to returnAn in-game update leaves a possible return open.May return only if the later game decision permits it.
Under evaluationA current evaluation is happening, but the final participation decision is not known.Availability is unresolved until an official update.
Blocking and unresolved states
Out for seasonA long-term status rules the player out for the rest of the season.Cannot play again that season.
SuspendedA league or club suspension blocks participation.Cannot play during the suspension.
Commissioner Exempt ListLeague authority has removed the player from ordinary participation.Cannot play while exempt.
Not on a rosterThe player is not under a club's current roster control.Cannot play until signed and rostered.
UnknownNo reliable availability answer has been established.Do not treat the player as available.

Reference table

Transaction types

The rows below group detailed league actions into the practical types a reader sees on RosterVerdict. Several technical variants can share one public explanation, so internal action names are intentionally not shown.

Each row is linkable. For example, use #transaction-trade-completed to link directly to Completed trade.

Plain-language transaction guide
Status or typeWhat it meansWhat it means for the next game
Joining a club
Free-agent signingA player without a current club signs a completed contract.He moves into the club's appropriate roster status; he can play only after being roster-eligible and cleared for the game.
Waiver claimA club is awarded a player during the waiver process.The player joins the claiming club after the process; he cannot play before the move is complete.
Return after waiversA player clears waivers and returns to the same club or remains under its control.This is not a new signing; the resulting roster status controls eligibility.
Rights acquisitionA club gains control of a player's NFL rights without necessarily adding him to a playable roster.Rights alone do not make him eligible for the next game.
Draft and player rights
Draft selectionA club selects a player and receives his draft rights.The player is not automatically under contract or eligible to play.
Rookie contractA drafted player's contract is agreed or signed.A signed contract completes the rights step, but roster placement is still required before he can play.
Undrafted free-agent contractAn undrafted player signs with a club after the draft.He joins the appropriate roster status; he is not game-eligible until properly rostered.
International allocation or exemptionA club receives or assigns an international player under a special roster arrangement.The player may remain exempt or rights-held and cannot play unless the applicable rules and roster status allow it.
Tryout or camp invitationA player is invited for evaluation without a completed roster transaction.No roster status change and no game eligibility.
Rights deadline, expiry, or relinquishmentA club's draft or other player rights end, expire, or are given up.The club loses the relevant control; the player cannot play for it on those rights alone.
Contracts, tenders, and retention
Re-signing an own free agentA club brings back a player who had become its free agent.He returns to the club, but this is shown as re-signed rather than a brand-new arrival.
Contract extension or restructureThe club changes the length, timing, guarantees, or money in an existing contract.Usually no team move and no roster-list change; the player's current status remains.
Option decisionA club or player exercises or declines a contractual option.Rights or contract terms change; the player does not automatically move teams.
Franchise or transition tagA club uses a tag that gives it a defined form of control or negotiation right.The player remains tied to the club; a tag is not a trade or ordinary signing.
Tender or offer sheetA club makes a tender, matches an offer, or handles a restricted free-agent process.The player's rights and contract position change; unsigned players are not automatically game-eligible.
Contract expirationA contract reaches its end without another completed contract replacing it.The player usually becomes a free agent; he cannot play for the club unless a new eligible arrangement is completed.
Trades
Trade agreement or pending tradeClubs have agreed to a trade, but a required physical, approval, or effective date is still pending.Nothing moves yet; the player remains with the current club.
Completed tradeThe trade is fully processed and the player changes clubs.He departs the old club and arrives at the new one; the new club must still establish game eligibility.
Trade compensation or conditional termThe picks, players, or conditions exchanged in a trade are added or updated.Usually changes the assets in the deal, not the player's roster status.
Trade rescinded, voided, or no dealA proposed trade does not complete or is undone before a completed move is recorded.No team change is recorded; the player remains with the current club.
Leaving a club
ReleaseA club ends the player's contract and removes him from its roster.He becomes a free agent unless another defined status applies; he cannot play for that club.
WaiveA club puts a player through the waiver process instead of releasing him directly.He cannot play for the club while the process is unresolved; the result may be a claim, clearance, or another status.
Waive injured or injury settlementA player leaves the club while an injury or settlement process remains attached to the record.He is not available to the former club; a settlement can also affect when that club may re-sign him.
RetirementThe player announces or completes a move out of active playing status.He cannot play unless a later reinstatement is recorded.
Practice squad
Practice-squad signingA player signs to the club's practice squad.He is not eligible for the next game unless elevated or moved to an eligible roster.
Practice-squad protectionThe club protects a practice-squad player from being signed by another club for a defined period.The player's practice-squad status does not change and he is not automatically game-eligible.
Game-day elevationA practice-squad player is temporarily elevated for one game.He may play that game if active; the temporary elevation normally ends or reverts afterward.
Practice-squad contract endsThe practice-squad contract expires or is terminated.The player leaves the practice squad and is not game-eligible for the club without a new move.
IPP practice-squad count exemptionThe International Player Pathway exemption adds a qualifying practice-squad slot.It changes roster counting only; elevation, a 53-man signing, an other-club signing and named-game eligibility still require their own evidence.
Injury and reserve movement
IR, PUP, or NFI placementThe player moves to an injury or non-football injury reserve list.He cannot play while on the reserve list.
Return designation or practice windowThe club opens a path for a reserve player to practise and potentially return.Practising is allowed, but the player still cannot play until activated.
Activation from a reserve listThe club formally returns the player from IR, PUP, NFI, or another reserve status.The reserve barrier is removed; roster placement and the game-day list still decide whether he can play.
Return window expiresThe allowed period to return from a reserve list ends without activation.The player remains unavailable under the applicable reserve status.
Discipline and administration
SuspensionThe league or club bars the player from participation for a stated period.He cannot play during the suspension.
Administrative reserve statusA did-not-report, left-squad, military, or similar administrative event changes the player's list status.He is not available while the blocking status remains.
Commissioner or club exemptionA formal exemption temporarily changes ordinary roster participation.The player cannot be assumed available; removal of the exemption is a separate step.
Reinstatement or removal of a blockA suspension, exemption, or reserve barrier is lifted or the player is reinstated.The block ends, but the player still needs an eligible roster and game-day status.
Availability and non-transactions
Practice or pregame reportThe club reports practice participation or an official pregame designation.It updates availability information, not the player's roster membership.
Game-day active, inactive, or late scratchThe club makes a one-game decision about whether the player dresses or can continue.It applies only to that game and does not rewrite the player's season roster status.
Agreement, visit, workout, or reported talksA player and club discuss or explore a move without a completed transaction.No roster change and no game eligibility.
Correction or withdrawalA published transaction is corrected, withdrawn, or replaced by a later record.The record is updated to the supported fact; a move that never completed does not create a lasting roster change.
Historical records
Historical or legacy transactionA transaction from an older rule era is retained for historical completeness.Its effect is interpreted in the season context; it does not imply a current roster status.