The COVID-19 pandemic impacted just about every person and every business in the U.S., including the National Football League.
Games were delayed, players and coaches caught the coronavirus, attendance was restricted, and Kendall Hinton was forced to play quarterback. It was a difficult time in the NFL, but it did result in some rule improvements.
“Obviously the last couple of days have been busy,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said Wednesday following the team’s roster cuts. “They’re always difficult. It’s one thing that never changes, having done that a while. The thing that has changed though, and I just finished telling our team, a lot of things came from COVID. On a positive note, the practice squad went to 16 [players]. Then the flexibility within the practice squad with veterans — more players are on rosters now. I gave them these two numbers … 53 and 16 plus [an] international [player]. Really it’s 70 [players].”
Before COVID, the NFL had already planned to increase the practice squad limit from 10 players to 12 players. Due to the pandemic and players missing games with coronavirus, the league increased the limit to 16 players to give teams extra roster flexibility (now a 17th international player is allowed as well). The NFL also increased the number of veterans who can sign with a practice squad.
All of those rule changes are beneficial for the players. More practice squad spots mean more jobs and once you’re in the building, any player can make a good impression and work his way up to the active roster.
“Once they’re here, I can’t tell you how many times — and you guys know this — guys are coming up, or coming down. So we have 70 guys on the team. I think that was different eight years ago. Just even the ability and the flexibility that clubs had, but I think it benefits everyone.
“It benefits the pool of players that wouldn’t be on rosters right now and I also think it helps in their development. So at some point this week, I’ll put a list together of practice squad players at one point and you’re going to see Pro Bowl players, you’re going to see — you guys know the story.”
Last year, Denver’s initial practice squad included wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, tight end Lucas Krull and safety Devon Key. Humphrey quickly worked his way up to the active roster last fall, and Krull and Key are now members of the team’s 53-man roster. Krull and Key turned a practice squad opportunity into active-roster jobs in the NFL. If not for COVID-19 and the resulting rule changes, they might not have gotten that initial opportunity.
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