A 53-man roster isn’t the only thing that NFL teams need to decide on this week. The league’s cutdown deadline from 90 to 53 will come and go on Sunday afternoon, and on Monday it will be time for teams to begin assembling the other major piece of their rosters: the practice squad.
Over the last several years, this component of the roster has expanded greatly in significance. Not long ago, teams could carry a maximum of 8 players on the practice squad, but that number has gradually increased, now
doubling to 16 (plus an additional 17th spot if a team signs a player with an international roster exemption). Furthermore, a player can be elevated from the practice squad to the active gameday roster a few times per year without a full promotion to the 53, making the unit a more functional squad of backups and injury replacements.
As a result, the NFL has expanded the eligibility rules for practice squads over the years as well. Now, a team can sign players with any level of experience to the squad. At least ten of the 16 spots must be taken up by players with two or fewer years of accrued NFL experience, but that leaves up to six slots that can be filled by players of any experience level.
Notably, teams cannot begin signing players to the practice squad until the league’s post-roster cut waivers are processed. That will take place at 12 Noon Eastern on Monday, when waiver claims will be awarded. After that, any players who clear waivers become free agents and are eligible to sign with any team, either to a full 53-man roster spot or to a practice squad. Still, there will be reports during cutdown day on Sunday of players whom the Packers would like to bring back for the practice squad if they do clear waivers. Here, APC will keep track those reports through Sunday, followed by the actual signings on Monday afternoon.
The Green Bay Packers have used the practice squad heavily in recent years as rules have changed, often promoting players to the gameday roster to fill in for injured players or to contribute on special teams. As such, today is an important day for general manager Brian Gutekunst and his staff, who will surely be working hard to bring back several individuals whom the Packers waived as part of Sunday’s cutdown. Building out a deep squad can have a major impact on a team’s ability to withstand challenges over the course of the season, and the quality of players on that unit could be the difference between the Packers going over or under their projected win total of 9.5, which is the current number on FanDuel sportsbook.
Keep it here throughout the next day or two as the squad fills out.
Reported Practice Squad Targets
The Packers are releasing the following players on Sunday, but the reports of their release has indicated that the Packers intend to or are interested in bringing them back for the practice squad if they clear waivers.
- OL Dalton Cooper
- DT Jaden Crumedy
- RB Jaden Nixon
- S Murvin Kenion III
- S Mark Perry
- S Jaylin Simpson
- LB Kristian Welch
- ED Nyjalik Kelly
