Fans of NFL teams await the roster cuts like a holiday anymore. Who makes their favorite team’s 53-man roster, and who becomes a free agent, and unemployed, in the blink of an eye. For a lucky few, they at least can remain with an organization rather than the alternative of waiting for the phone to ring.
Welcome to the practice squad.
After clearing waivers, each team can sign players to their official practice squad. Players who are on the practice squad can be signed by other teams, and promoted by their own organization, but can stay, learn and train with the team in hopes of making the team in the future and having a permanent home in the NFL.