Tag: Practice Squad Protections

Broncos protect 3 practice squad players for Week 7

Broncos protected WRs Tyrie Cleveland and John Brown and LB Pita Taumoepenu on the practice squad this week.

The Denver Broncos have protected three practice squad players ahead of their “Thursday Night Football” showdown with the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

The Broncos protected wide receivers Tyrie Cleveland and John Brown and linebacker Pita Taumoepenu. These players are not eligible to leave the team to join another team’s active roster this week.

The 13 unprotected players on Denver’s practice squad are allowed to leave the club if offered a spot on another team’s 53-man roster.

Last week, the Broncos protected Cleveland, linebacker Curtis Robinson, guard/center Austin Schlottmann and wide receiver Seth Williams.

Robinson was promoted to the 53-man roster and Taumoepenu was signed to the practice squad on Tuesday.

Denver made several changes to the practice squad last week, with the biggest move being bringing in Brown. After losing KJ Hamler to a season-ending injury, the Broncos signed Brown to add more speed at wide receiver.

Thursday’s game against the Browns will be nationally televised on Fox and NFL Network. The game will also be available to stream on Prime Video.

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Broncos protect 3 practice squad players for Week 3

Broncos protected Brett Rypien (QB3), Damarea Crockett (RB4/special teams) and OL Austin Schlottmann (Graham Glasgow depth) on the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos have protected three practice squad players for Week 3, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Brett Rypien was protected and he will likely continue being protected each week this season as the team’s third-string quarterback.

Austin Schlottmann was also protected, likely in case fellow guard Graham Glasgow (illness) is not able to play on Sunday.

For the third straight week, running back Damarea Crockett was also protected.

NFL teams can elevate two practice squad players to the game day roster each week and those players are eligible to revert back to the practice squad without having to clear waivers up to two times per season.

Because Crockett has already been elevated twice this season, he would be subject to the waiver wire next week if the Broncos elevate him again for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

Teams are allowed to protect four players per week, so only protecting three players might be a sign that a practice squad player is a candidate to get promoted to the 53-man roster this week, removing the need to protect him.

One potential candidate to get promoted to the active roster could be linebacker Curtis Robinson following Josey Jewell’s season-ending injury.

The unprotected players on Denver’s practice squad are eligible to leave the team to join another team’s active roster. The protected players can’t be poached by other teams this week.

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Steelers practice squad 2020: Pittsburgh protects 4 practice squad players for Week 6

A new concept for the 2020 season is the “protected” practice squad. Here are the four players the Steelers chose to protect.

The Steelers must like what they have going as far as practice squad protections. There are no changes from Week 5 to 6 for protected players. Pittsburgh has tabbed wide receiver Deon Cain, linebacker Jayrone Elliott, defensive end Henry Mondeaux and running back Wendell Smallwood. These four are not eligible to sign with another team until after Sunday’s game.

Practice squad “protection” is a new concept for the 2020 season. It’s a concession for the potential personnel shortages that could occur if the virus strikes the locker room.

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Teams can designate protected players each Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m., except for clubs that played on the previous Monday night; their designations go into effect prior to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Steelers continue their 2020 season Sunday, Oct. 18 versus the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field.

Chiefs protect two practice squad players ahead of Week 3

A running back and a cornerback have been protected by Kansas City ahead of Week 3.

The Kansas City Chiefs have protected a pair of players on their practice squad ahead of their Week 3 meeting with the Baltimore Ravens on “Monday Night Football.”

According to the NFL’s transaction report, the Chiefs have protected RB DeAndre Washington and CB Chris Lammons. A new feature of NFL practice squads this year is the ability to protect players from poaching each week. Teams can choose up to four new players to be protected every Tuesday.

Last week, the team opted to protect Braxton Hoyett, who was elevated to the active roster against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. He played in place of the injured Khalen Saunders who was placed on IR ahead of the game.

The Chiefs suffered two injuries during Sunday’s game at both the running back and the corner position. Darrel Williams suffered an ankle injury and Antonio Hamilton suffered a groin injury. If Brett Veach follows the same path as last week, Williams and Hamilton could be made inactive, hopefully avoiding IR with their respective injuries. Washington and Lammons are likely to be standard elevations on Saturady ahead of the game, providing depth at the two positions where the team sustained injuries.

Washington was a free agent acquisition this offseason. He played college football with Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech and is a solid pass-catching back. He should provide a nice change-of-pace to Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darwin Thompson.

Lammons spent the 2019 season on the Chiefs’ practice squad. He has some versatility to his game with the ability to play both safety and the slot corner position, which is that same role that Hamilton played for Kansas City.

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