Here's a quick look at some important dates on the Patriots / NFL calendar. All dates are currently are subject to change.

SEPTEMBER

September 1

• Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 12:00 p.m., New York time.
• Upon receipt of the Personnel Notice, clubs may establish a Practice Squad, subject to the applicable limits negotiated for the 2021 season (clubs participating in the International Player Development Program may sign one additional international player to a Practice Player Contract.) 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.
• Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, 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, as defined in CBA Article 23, Section 10.

September 6 - 11

• In accordance with the Personnel (Injury) Report Policy, each club is required to file a Practice Report with the NFL Communications department by 4:00 p.m., New York time, (or as soon as possible after the completion of practice) every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a regular season Sunday game; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for a Thursday game; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for a Monday game; and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for a Saturday game.
• Each club must also file a weekly regular season Game Status Report with the NFL Communications department by 4:00 p.m., New York time (or as soon as possible after the completion of practice) on Wednesday for a Thursday game, Friday for a Sunday game, Saturday for a Monday game, and Thursday for a Saturday game. An update must be reported if there is any change in a player's condition after the initial Game Status Report is filed. Regular Season Week 1.

September 9, 12-13

• Regular Season Week 1

September 28

• Beginning on the Tuesday following the third weekend of regular season games, the claiming priority is based on the inverse order of the standing of clubs in the current season's games.

OCTOBER

Mid-October

• Beginning on the sixth calendar day prior to a club's seventh regular season game (including any bye week) clubs are permitted to begin practicing players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness (if the player failed his preseason physical due to a non-football injury or illness) for a period not to exceed 21 days. Players may be activated during the 21-day practice period, or prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the day after the conclusion of the 21-day period, provided that no player may be activated to participate in a Week Six game.

NOVEMBER

November 2

• All trading ends for 2021 at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

November 3

• Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons are subject to the waiver system for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.

November 16

• At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Franchise Players who are eligible to receive offer sheets.
• Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their unsigned Franchise and Transition Players, including Franchise Players who were eligible to receive offer sheets until this date. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2021.
• Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their unrestricted free agents to whom the "UFA Tender" was made. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2021.
• Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for Clubs to sign their restricted free agents, including those to whom the "June 1 Tender" was made. If such players remain unsigned after this date, they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2021.
• Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their drafted rookies. If such players remain unsigned after this date, they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2021.

All dates and times are subject to change.