The NFL is reportedly set to make practice squads bigger.
The NFL is expected to approve a plan to allow clubs to have as many as 10 players on practice squads starting this season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on “Monday Night Countdown.”
According to Schefter, the plan is “expected” to be ratified by next week.
Teams have been allowed to have as many as eight practice squad players.
The plan figures to be popular with coaches and younger players trying to stick in the league. For starters, keeping two extra practice squad players will help a club have a deeper reserve of injury replacements who know the team’s schemes. And, as Schefter noted during “Monday Night Countdown,” the move will create 64 new jobs for players.
However, the practice squad rule could have an impact on older free agents without practice squad eligibility who have might have been considered as in-season roster additions for clubs dealing with injuries. Now, those players are conceivably competing with two more in-house candidates for jobs.
NFL clubs have to pare their rosters to 53 players by Saturday, August 30. Clubs can begin to sign players to their practice squads after 12 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, August 31.