Report: NFL Expanding Practice Squads to 16 Players

While the NFL may be sticking with the 53-man roster this season, practice squads are getting a boost.

The league is reportedly expanding practice squad rosters to 16 players this season, according to a report by Mark Maske of the Washington Post.

In addition, clubs will be able to protect up to four players each week from being picked off by other teams.

NFL owners ratified increased practice squads of 16 players per team, source says. Four players on the practice squad can be protected from other teams on a weekly basis.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) July 24, 2020

Practice squads were already set to increase to 12 player this season as part of the new CBA passed earlier this year. By increasing by four, teams will now have more flexibility if they have to make roster moves in response to positive COVID-19 cases this season that seem inevitable this year.

While many voiced concerns for fringe players with the cancellation of the entire preseason, the expansion of practice squads will in theory provide expanded opportunities to those players negatively impacted by the lack of exhibition games.

If the league does make this change for 2020, it would increase the total roster of each team to 69 players overall.

The expansion of practice squads is just the latest of many details addressed between the NFL and NFLPA, as the two sides agreed to a revised CBA for the 2020 season on Friday, all but ensuring training camps will start as planned on July 28.