The NFL was forced to alter their practice squad rules in 2020 as COVID-19 affected teams around the league. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about how the practice squad rules will work for 2021.
16-man practice squads
The NFL is carrying over the 16-man practice squad from last year to allow teams more flexibility as they continue to deal with the pandemic. A 16-man squad allows teams to maintain more depth, but it will also impact roster strategies around the league.
Up to two “promotable” players
The NFL allows teams to promote two players from the practice squad to the 53-man roster (effectively creating a 55-man roster), but these players revert to the practice squad after the game.