Everything Chiefs fans need to know about NFL practice squad rules for 2020

The Kansas City Chiefs have assembled their 53-man roster and now they’ll look to assemble their practice squad. There are some new rules to keep in mind as they do so.

Players who were released on Saturday with fewer than four accrued seasons must go through waivers. A season is accrued when a player spends six or more games on the active roster. Teams have a total of 24 hours to put in a waiver claim on those players. If no one puts in a claim, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign with any team on their 53-man roster or practice squad.

The new CBA agreed-upon prior to the COVID-19 pandemic had already expanded the PS from 10 to 12 players for 2020. The newly-agreed upon stipulations following the pandemic expanded the practice squad to a total of 16 players for 2020.

Traditionally, the practice squad is a place for teams to stash and continue to develop players. The league introduced two spots for players with an unlimited number of accrued seasons in the new CBA. They expanded that number to six players due to the pandemic. That means Kansas City can have a total of six veteran players on the practice squad this season.

An entirely new feature of NFL practice squads this year is the ability to protect players. Every Tuesday teams can protect four players on their practice squad, preventing opposing teams from poaching those four players and adding them to their 53-man rosters.

Finally, perhaps the most important change to practice squads. On gameday NFL teams can call up two players from the practice squad, bringing the game day roster from 46 players to 48 players. This allows flexibility in the case of COVID-19 positive tests during the season. Players that are elevated  to the active roster this way are not subject to waivers when they go back to the practice squad either.

This change makes the practice squad a true extension of the 53-man roster, more than it’s ever previously been. You very well could see some practice squad players active when the Chiefs play games this season. It’ll add to the strategy of roster building for each team and allow flexibility that teams didn’t previously have.