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How does the Green Bay Packers practice squad work and what are rules around 'protecting' and 'elevating' players to the roster?

The Green Bay Packers have a 53-man roster and a 16-man practice squad ahead of the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 11.

Rules governing the practice squad have shifted in recent years, including a dramatic expansion in the number of players added to it and the opportunity to use those players on game day even without putting them on the active 53-man roster. So how does all that work, exactly?

What is the practice squad, anyway?

NFL teams can keep 16 players on their practice squad, meaning .