The Eagles’ work will not end when they submit their initial 53-man roster Sunday evening.
Philadelphia can begin constructing its practice squad after the waiver-claim period expires at 1 p.m. ET Monday, Aug. 31, and the NFL distributes its personnel notice to all 32 teams. Until that notice arrives, the Eagles cannot sign one of their waived players to a practice-squad contract. Players with fewer than four credited seasons must first clear waivers, giving every other organization an opportunity to claim them for its active roster.
Vested veterans who were released do not face that waiting period. They can negotiate with Philadelphia or another team as unrestricted free agents.
The standard NFL practice squad can contain 16 players. A team may
carry a 17th player if that spot is occupied by a qualifying player designated through the International Player Pathway program.
That could matter for Philadelphia, which brought in Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru through its offseason program via the international pathway. If a qualifying player is waived, clears and receives the appropriate designation, the Eagles could use the additional spot. The eligibility rules allow teams to blend developmental prospects with experienced veterans. As many as 10 practice-squad players can have no more than two accrued seasons, while as many as six spots can be filled by players without an experience limit.
Philadelphia’s potential return candidates include safety Cole Wisniewski, defensive tackles Gabe Hall and Zion Wilson, offensive lineman Myles Hinton and receiver Quez Watkins. Availability will depend on waiver claims, other offers and each player’s interest in returning.
Practice-squad positions are not permanent. Players can be signed to another team’s active roster, released or elevated for games. NFL clubs can elevate as many as two practice-squad players for a game without immediately signing them to the 53-man roster. An individual can receive three standard elevations before he must be signed to the active roster to play again.
The Eagles’ initial group will provide developmental depth, but its composition can change throughout the season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles practice squad rules, limits, and candidates for 2026
