The Washington Commanders have officially trimmed their roster down to 53 players, but the work isn’t over for coaches and personnel executives. Washington is 11th on the waiver priority list until the list resets after Week 3. The team also has a 16-man practice squad to fill. The team released ~28 players today, and a lot of them will be signed to the PS if they aren’t claimed. The rules changed last year due to COVID-19, and we’ve got the breakdown on all the changes here.
16 player squads
Practice squads were limited to 10 players in 2019, but that was set to change with the new CBA. The number was going to 12 players for 2 years, and then was going to be increased to 14 players in 2022. That all changed when the uncertainty of COVID-19 hit, and the league increased practice squads to 16 players which will once again be the limit in 2022.
Practice squad players moving up to the main roster
Teams now have more flexibility with using practice squad players on game day. PS players can be activated on game day before the team announces their inactives (90 minutes before game time). The player doesn’t have to be elevated from the PS to the main roster for the move. This can happen with up to two practice squad players per week. A player is now able to be elevated three times per season. To be activated a fourth time requires the player to be signed to the regular roster.
This is a big change from past rules, and makes it easier for teams to have players they know and trust on game day, and also not have to subject them to waivers when they are signed to the main roster and cut to get back to the practice squad.
More protection
The NFL also added a new wrinkle to the practice squad that provides teams with some limited protections for keeping practice squad players. Teams can designate four players every week that are protected from being signed by other teams. This protection starts on Tuesday each week, so every practice squad player is still available to be signed to the regular roster of another team after their team’s game that week until the deadline on Tuesday.
Veteran players
Another change over the last two years is the eligibility requirements for veteran players. Previously teams could have up to 4 players who had two years of NFL experience. Now teams can have 6 veterans with no limit on the amount of accrued seasons they have in the league.
Weekly payment
Practice squad players make $11,500 per week or $207,000 for 18 weeks. Veteran players with over two years of experience will make a minimum of $15,400 per week or $277,200 for 18 weeks, and a maximum of $19,900 per week or $358,200.
Signing with the practice squad
Teams completed their roster cuts by Tuesday August 30th at 4pm, meaning that over 800 players just became available. Teams have until Wednesday at 12:00 noon to claim unvested players that have been waived. Vested veterans (players with a minimum of 4 accrued seasons) will be free agents immediately and are able to sign with any team.
Starting at 12:00 pm ET on August 31st, teams can begin signing players to their practice squads.
Practice squad basics
- Practice squad players practice with the team. They do not play in games, unless they are elevated (see above)
- Practice squad players are paid per week and can be released at any point during the season.
- Practice squad players are free to sign with other NFL teams (with the exception of the four protected players described above, or the upcoming opponent as described below), but they have to be signed to the 53-man active roster of the acquiring team. A practice squad player cannot be signed to another practice squad unless he is first released or waived.
- A practice squad player can not sign with his team’s upcoming opponent, unless he does so six days before the upcoming game or 10 days if his team is currently on a bye week.
- If a practice squad player is signed to the active roster, he will receive a minimum of three weekly paychecks, even if he is released before spending three weeks with the new team.
- In order to be signed to a practice squad after being released, a player who is not a vested veteran must first clear waivers, and is subject to waiver claims by other teams.
FAQs
Practice squad basics
What do NFL practice squad players make in salary? ›
With the exception of the group iv players and their two-plus accrued seasons, every player who is on the squad (groups i-iii) will earn $12,000 per week this year, a total of $216,000 over the course of the regular season.
How much do practice squad members make in 2024? ›
NFL practice squad salaries
| Year | Minimum salary | Maximum salary |
|---|
| 2024 | $16,800 | $21,300 |
| 2025 | $17,500 | $22,000 |
| 2026 | $18,350 | $22,850 |
| 2027 | $19,200 | $23,700 |
4 more rowsAug 29, 2023
Practice squad players can be paid more than those minimum figures and their salaries do count against a team's salary cap. If a practice squad player is promoted to the active roster, he earns the prorated minimum salary for a player with his years of experience.
How many years can you be on practice squad? ›
Players could only be members of the practice squad for up to two seasons.
Do NFL practice squad players get benefits? ›
When you make a regular or postseason game roster with a qualifying status (Active, Inactive, Reserve/Injured, Reserve/PUP or Practice Squad), you and your eligible dependents receive Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug, and Work/Life Resources coverage.
Do practice squad players get Super Bowl rings? ›
Per the CBA, players that were on the winning team's practice squad at the time of the Super Bowl victory are also entitled to a ring, but it can be one of lesser value. The Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl XLV ring contained more than 100 diamonds.
Do all practice squad players get paid the same? ›
Weekly payment
Practice squad players make $12,000 per week or $216,000 for 18 weeks. Veteran players with over two years of experience will make a minimum of $16,100 per week or $289,800 for 18 weeks, and a maximum of $20,600 per week or $370,800 for 18 weeks.
Do NFL practice squad players travel with the team? ›
Listen as a former practice squad player can confirm this is way outside the norm cause typically you don't travel to away games, at home games you're in a suite if you go at all, you never dress or are on the sidelines and they don't even put you in the team picture.
How do practice squad players get paid? ›
While the salary may not as lucrative as an NFL contract, practice squad members do get paid a livable wage. The players on the practice squad get a weekly salary set by the league Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The minimum salary for NFL practice squad players if $12,000 per week. If a player has accrued at least two seasons, their minimum salary is $16,100 per week and maximum salary is $20,600 per week.
Do NFL practice squad players get paid during playoffs? ›
Practice squad players continue to get paid at their weekly rate for as long as their respective teams are in the playoffs. That's $12,000 per week for most practice squad players.
Who is the lowest paid NFL player? ›
While Tyrone Swoopes won the reigning title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn't as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.
What is the lowest salary on the practice squad? ›
[SeanBorman] 2023 practice squad salaries: The salary for a non-veteran practice squad player this year is $12,000 weekly or $216K for the season. For a veteran the minimum salary is $16,100 weekly ($289,800 for the season) and the maximum is $20,600 a week or $370,800 for the season.
How many times can a player be on the practice squad? ›
Players on the practice squad can be placed on the active/game day roster three times during the regular season. If a player is made active on game day a fourth time, they must be signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. Following the first three games, the player reverts to the practice squad.
Do practice squad players go to away games? ›
He is on their practice-squad, which includes nine other players. Practice-squad players are not allowed to dress for games or travel to road games unless it's a extended four-day trip like the Jaguars made to London last month to play the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium.
What is the highest salary in the NFL practice squad? ›
Practice squad players make $12,000 per week or $216,000 for 18 weeks. Veteran players with over two years of experience will make a minimum of $16,100 per week or $289,800 for 18 weeks, and a maximum of $20,600 per week or $370,800 for 18 weeks.
How much does an NFL cheerleader make? ›
Nfl Cheerleader Salary
| Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|
| Top Earners | $75,000 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $24 |
| Average | $45,100 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $17 |
The NFL's minimum player salary
The minimum salary rose to $705,000 in 2022. This year, the minimum salary for an NFL player is $750,000. This amount applies exclusively to NFL rookies during their debut season. As they advance, the minimum rises to $870,000 and $940,000 by the third year.
What is the lowest salary in the NFL practice squad? ›
The minimum salary for NFL practice squad players if $12,000 per week. If a player has accrued at least two seasons, their minimum salary is $16,100 per week and maximum salary is $20,600 per week.
