As the NFL continues to plan a season played during the COVID-19 pandemic, the league is considering some big rule changes.
The NFL has proposed a rule change that would allow teams to call up a practice squad player up to 90 minutes before kickoff if he is replacing a player on the active roster who tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a report from ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio.
The league is also considering increasing the practice squad from 12 players to 16 players — and up to six players can have unlimited accrued seasons.
In addition to changes to practice squad rules, the NFL has also discussed the possibility of allowing an unlimited amount of players to return from injured reserve and non-football injury lists this season, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Under that proposed rule, players would be eligible to return from a reserve list three weeks after being removed from the active roster.
Under the NFL’s current rules, teams are allowed to bring back just three players from IR per season. Those players have to spend eight weeks on reserve before returning to the active roster. Last year, the Broncos brought QB Drew Lock and WR Tim Patrick back from IR during the season.
The NFL will want to have these rule changes finalized soon as teams across the league are starting up training camps this week.
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