We've spent a lot of time talking about the projected roster for the Colts, and a part of that discussion that is always brought up is who the eight practice squad players will be. According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the number of practice squad players for each team will soon increase from eight to ten players.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>By next week, NFL is expected to increase size of practice squads to 10 players from 8, per source. So 64 more jobs.</p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/statuses/501510721495379968">August 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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This is big, and good, news for the NFL and for players. The biggest thing it means is that 64 more players will have jobs, even if on the practice squad. It also means that more players will get chances and more players will, therefore, be discovered. And 64 more players will have spots in the NFL. That's good news.
Here, from SB Nation, is a brief look at the basics of practice squad eligibility:
- A player is eligible if he does not have an accrued season of NFL experience. Players gain an accrued season by being on the active roster for at least six games.
- If a player has one accrued season, they can still be practice squad eligible if they were on the 45-man active gameday roster for less than nine regular season games.
- A player is deemed to have served a season on the practice squad if he remains on the practice squad for at least three weeks. Players are eligible to be on the practice squad for two seasons.
- Players can be eligible for a third practice squad season if their team maintains no less than 53 players on the active/inactive list at all times.