NFL May Expand Practice Squads To 16 Players

Recently, the NFL expanded practice squads from ten players to 12. Now, the league may go from a dozen to 16, according to Judy Battista and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). 

The NFLPA would have to sign off on the measure, but it would only make sense for the union to approve it. With four more spots per team, there would be as many as 128 more jobs for players around the league. Meanwhile, teams would have more roster flexibility in the event of positive COVID-19 tests.

Several players have tested positive for the coronavirus amidst the country’s burgeoning second wave. Players from the Texans and Cowboys – including star running back Ezekiel Elliott – tested positive earlier this week, and Broncos safety Kareem Jackson tested positive on Wednesday morning. Even though the NFL has protocols in place to limit the spread of the virus, the league understands that this is an inevitability. You can keep players apart from one another in the locker room, but there is no such thing as social distancing on the football field.

There has also been some talk of expanding the regular season roster. The new collective bargaining agreement already allows for teams to carry 55 players on game days with 48 active players, up from the previous 53-man/46-active roster setup. Further expansion – even a temporary one – would give teams additional insurance if COVID-19 forces players out of action.

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