NFL practice squads were to expand from 10 to 12 players in 2020. Now, there’s internal talk about expanding to as many as 16 for greater roster flexibility for positive Covid tests, sources tell me and @judybattista. NFLPA would have to co-sign but that’s more jobs for players.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 18, 2020
According to a report by Mike Garafolo at NFL Network, the league is considering changing the practice squad rules so that teams can carry up to 16 players this year. They were already supposed to expand from the usual 10 players to 12 for the 2020 season.
The coronavirus pandemic is the main reason why they’d make this change. While the league has maintained that the season will happen at the normal time, business as usual simply isn’t going to cut it this year. Some things will have to be different to accomodate for the extraordinary circumstances.
If it happens, this change would be especially good news for rookies and undrafted free agents, who will have much less time than usual to make an impression on their new coaches in 2020 than usual. Offseason programs have been conducted virtually up until this point and it’s possible the league will cut the preseason schedule in half.
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