Tag: roster expansion

Report: NFL could expand practice squads to 16

The NFL is looking at expanding practice squads to 16 players to give roster flexibility amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The confluence of increasing roster sizes and the COVID-19 pandemic could cause the NFL to expand roster sizes to 16 for the 2020 regular season.

According to NFL.com, the league is considering the 16-man practice squad as it would allow for larger flexibility should COVID-19 positive tests ravage a team’s roster. Just in the past week, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans players have tested positive, and even the Denver Broncos’ Kareem Jackson reported a positive test.

Rosters were already undergoing an expansion in 2020 with an increase from 53 to 55 on the active roster in the regular season. Additionally, the practice squad would increase from 10 to 12 players. The NFL Players Association would have to agree to the expansion.

NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills told NBC Sports’ Peter King that he believes the 101st regular season will kickoff on time with the Houston Texans facing the Kansas City Chiefs Sept. 10 at Arrowhead Stadium.

“I remain very optimistic that we will play the season as scheduled,” Sills said. “None of us has a crystal ball. Three months is a long time.”

Though there is still time between the doldrums of the offseason and Week 1, the NFL is trying to take every precaution to ensure a season without interruptions or delays.

NFL could expand practice squads to 16 players

In preparation for players testing positive for the coronavirus, the NFL is considering expanding the practice squad size to 16 players.

With everything that has happened this year already, it’s not surprising there will be more changes coming to the NFL. The offseason was already conducted in a virtual format, and in-person minicamps have been officially canceled in June.

The league is also toying with the idea of a shortened preseason, featuring two instead of four exhibition games.

And with the possible start of training camps in July approaching quickly and the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to affect the nation — and worsening in many states — another change that could be coming is to the NFL roster size.

NFL.com’s Judy Battista and Mike Garofolo reported Wednesday the league is considering enlarging clubs’ practice squads from 12 to 16 players. The squads were already set to expand from 10 to 12 this year.

The expansion would be to allow for greater roster flexibility if and when players test positive for the coronavirus. However, as both Battista and Garafolo note, the NFLPA would have to sign off on the expansion.

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