With the Philadelphia Eagles, 53 man roster now set, the Birds and every other team around the NFL will go through the process of developing a practice squad.
Fans around the league wonder every summer, just how exactly does the practice squad work? With the Eagles set to announce their 10-man practice squad, we broke down the rules and minimum salaries for players who make the 10-man squads around the league, with everything you need to know in 2019.
What is the practice squad?
Every NFL team gets a 10-man practice squad (11 for those with international players). This allows teams to keep young talent on their roster that doesn’t initially make the 53-man roster. A team looking to redshirt a young player can place them on the practice squad, develop them and promote them once they’re ready or need a body.
Who qualifies for a practice squad spot?
NFL teams are allowed to carry up to four veterans on their practice squad, but they can have no more than two accrued seasons in the league. A player cannot be on a practice squad for more than three seasons.
Undrafted free agents and late-round picks usually make up the practice squads across the league.
What is an accrued season?
Six weeks–including bye weeks–on a 53-man roster qualifies as an accrued season for a player in the NFL.
When do teams build their practice squad?
Teams make roster cuts by Saturday at 4:00 PM. On Sunday at 1: 00 PM, teams can start to stack their practice squad with guys who have cleared waivers.
How much do practice squad players make?
This season, players on the Eagles practice squad will make a minimum of $8,000 per week during the regular season and playoffs. $8,000 is the minimum salary players can earn per week, and there’s no cap on the amount of money a practice squad player can receive from a team.
