That’s part of why the league is once again allowing teams to sign 16 players to practice squad rosters. Originally, the NFL and NFLPA’s Collective Bargaining Agreeement outlined a 12-man practice squad in 2021 with an increase to a 14-man unit in 2022. However, because of the pandemic, both parties agreed to expanded units last year; that policy will stay in effect for 2021.
Teams are allowed to begin signing players to practice squad contracts at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 1. That coincides with the passing of the waiver period after the NFL’s final roster cuts. NFL teams had to trim their 80-man rosters down to 53 by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
NFL teams are allowed to carry up to six veterans on the practice squad. That means there will be plenty of recognizable names on each unit, especially some experienced quarterbacks.
Sporting News is tracking each NFL team as they fill out their practice squads. Also included are details on the rules and salaries for practice squad players.
MORE: Full roster cuts for all 32 NFL teams
NFL practice squad signings: 2021 rosters for all 32 NFL teams
Below are the initial practice squad signings that teams made after Tuesday’s final cuts, via either team announcements or media reports.
Practice squads are subject to change and teams will frequently shuffle players throughout the 16 available spots throughout the 2021 NFL season.
49ers practice squad
TE Jordan Matthews QB Nate Sudfeld FB Josh Hokit LB Elijah Sullivan TE Tanner Hudson S Jared Mayden OL Senio Kelemete DL Alex Barrett WR Travis Benjamin WR River Cracraft DL Darrion Daniels OL Alfredo Gutierrez OL Corbin Kaufusi OL Colton McKivitz
Bears practice squad
OLB Charles Snowden K Brian Johnson CB Thomas Graham Jr. RB Artavis Pierce LB Sam Kamara WR Isaiah Coulter RB Ryan Nall DT Auzoyah Alufohai WR Jon’Vea Johnson DB Teez Tabor OL Arlington Hambright OL Dieter Eiselen WR Dazz Newsome
Bengals practice squad
RB Pooka Williams Jr. RB Trayveon Williams P Drue Chrisman LB Joe Bachie CB Tony Brown S Trayvon Henderson LB Keandre Jones TE Thaddeus Moss HB Jacques Patrick CB Winston Rose TE Mason Schreck DE Noah Spence G Keaton Sutherland WR Trent Taylor DT Renell Wren
Bills practice squad
QB Jake Fromm QB Davis Webb RB Antonio Williams WR Tanner Gentry WR Isaiah Hodgins TE Quintin Morris OG Jack Anderson OG Jamil Douglas DE Mike Love DT Brandin Bryant LB Joe Giles-Harris CB Olaijah Griffin CB Cam Lewis CB Rachad Wildgoose S Josh Thomas
Broncos practice squad
WR Seth Williams QB Brett Rypien LB Curtis Robinson WR Kendall Hinton OL Austin Schlottmann OT Drew Himmelmann TE Shaun Beyer CB Nate Hairston WR Tyrie Cleveland DL Marquiss Spencer LB Barrington Wade RB Damarea Crockett OT Quinn Bailey CB Mac McCain III
Browns practice squad
QB Nick Mullens LB Elijah Lee TE Jordan Franks WR JoJo Natson DE Porter Gustin DE Curtis Weaver WR Ja’Marcus Bradley FB Johnny Stanton RB John Kelley S Jovante Moffatt DT Sheldon Day
Buccaneers practice squad
WR Cyril Grayson S Andrew Adams QB Ryan Griffin TE Codey McElroy WR/KR Jaydon Mickens WR Travis Jonsen DB Herb Miller RB Darwin Thompson TE Deon Yelder OG Jonathan Hubbard OL Brandon Walton DL Benning Potoa’e
Cardinals practice squad
DE Ron’Dell Carter CB Rasul Douglas WR Andre Baccellia CB Jace Whittaker WR Greg Dortch LB Kylie Fitts OL Sean Harlow OL Koda Martin TE Ross Travis S Chris Banjo TE Bernhard Seikovits
Chargers practice squad
DE Joe Gaziano WR Michael Bandy RB Darius Bradwell LB Cole Christiansen DB Ben DeLuca OLB Emeke Egbule DL Breiden Fehoko G Nate Gilliam G Ryan Hunter TE Hunter Kampenmoyer WR Jason Moore Jr. WR Joe Reed
Chiefs practice squad
QB Shane Buechele WR Cornell Powell LB Christian Rozeboom LB Zayne Anderson DE Demone Harris DL Austin Edwards LB Omari Cobb C Darryl Williams DL Austin Edwards DT Cortez Broughton DT Benito Jones WR Maurice Ffrench CB Shakur Brown S Devon Key CB DiCaprio Bootle WR Gehrig Dieter
Colts practice squad
S Shawn Davis DL Kameron Cline RB Deon Jackson QB Brett Hundley C Joey Hunt S Sean Davis WR DeMichael Harris TE Farrod Green WR Tyler Vaughns WR Tarik Black LB Curtis Bolton DB Anthony Chesley DT Andrew Brown LB Malik Jefferson OL Carter O’Donnell
Cowboys practice squad
QB Ben DiNucci RB JaQuan Hardy FB Nick Ralston WR Brandon Smith WR Osirus Mitchell TE Jeremy Sprinkle OL Braylon Jones OL Isaac Alarcon DL Justin Hamilton DL Austin Faoliu CB Deante Burton CB Kyron Brown S Darian Thompson S Tyler Coyle
Dolphins practice squad
QB Reid Sinnett WR Kirk Merritt RB Gerrid Doaks LB Shaquem Griffin CB Javaris Davis OL Durval Queiroz Neto OT Adam Pankey LB Calvin Munson RB Patrick Laird DE Jabaal Sheard RB Jordan Scarlett
Eagles practice squad
C Ross Pierschbacher OT Le’Raven Clark S Grayland Arnold DL Matt Leo OL Sua Opeta CB Craig James DL Kayode Awosika WR Travis Fulgham WR John Hightower S Elijah Riley LB JaCoby Stevens RB Jordan Howard RB Jason Huntley CB Michael Jacquet DT Raequan Williams
Falcons practice squad
RB D’Onta Foreman RB Caleb Huntley S Dwayne Johnson OL Willie Beavers DE Quinton Bell LB Emmanuel Ellerbee WR Juwan Green OL Ryan Neuzil OLB George Obinna TE John Raine DT Chris Slayton WR Austin Trammell TE David Wells CB Chris Williamson
Giants practice squad
TE Ryan Izzo WR David Sills WR Matt Cole WR Damion Willis TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart TE Jake Hausmann LB Niko Lalos OL Brett Heggie OL Kenny Wiggins OL Jackson Barton OL Jake Burton TE Chris Myarick DL David Moa DL Willie Henry DB Jordyn Peters
Jaguars practice squad
DT Doug Costin WR Josh Hammond RB Devine Ozigbo CB Brandon Rusnak WR Jeff Cotton Jr. WR Phillip Dorsett WR Devin Smith WR LaQuon Treadwell RB Nathan Cottrell OL Badara Treore OL KC Williams OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Sims CB Lorenzo Burns
Jets practice squad
TE Kenny Yeboah WR Vyncint Smith DT Tanzel Smart C Jimmy Murray QB Josh Johnson RB Josh Adams WR DJ Montgomery OL Grant Hermanns OL Isaiah Williams DL Ronnie Blair LB Del’Shawn Phillips LB Hamilcar Rashed Jr. CB Lamar Jackson
Lions practice squad
DT Miles Brown WR Sage Surratt K Zane Gonzalez CB Nickell Robey-Coleman RB Craig Reynolds DL Bruce Hector LB Tavante Becker LB Rashod Berry S Jalen Elliott G Tommy Kraemer TE Alize Mack WR Javon McKinley RB Dedrick Mills TE Brock Wright OT Darrin Paulo
Packers practice squad
QB Kurt Benkert OL Cole Van Lanen CB Kabian Ento WR Equanimeous St. Brown K JJ Molson OL Ben Braden WR Juwann Winfrey S Innis Gaines TE Bronson Kaufusi RB Patrick Taylor DL Abdullah Anderson OL Jacob Capra LB Tipa Galeai LB Ray Wilborn DL Willington Previlon WR Chris Blair
Panthers practice squad
WR C. J. Saunders OL Sam Tecklenburg QB James Morgan S Kenny Robinson RB Rodney Smith WR Keith Kirkwood WR Omar Bayless OL Aaron Monteiro DL Frank Herron RB Spencer Brown DB Jalen Julius TE Stephen Sullivan CB Rashaan Melvin
Patriots practice squad
QB Garrett Gilbert DL Bill Murray DB Myles Bryant TE Matt LaCosse WR Tre Nixon OL Alex Redmond WR Kristian Wilkerson DB D’Angelo Ross QB Brian Hoyer LB Jahlani Tavai LB Tashaun Bower FB Ben Mason
Raiders practice squad
OL Devery Hamilton CB Robert Jackson C Jimmy Morrissey DT Niles Scott DL Kendal Vickers CB Madre Harper WR Dillon Stoner TE Matt Bushman OL Jeremiah Poutasi RB Trey Ragas WR DJ Turner DE Gerri Green S Jordan Brown G Lester Cotton RB B. J. Emmons
Rams practice squad
WR J. J. Koski DB Kareem Orr CB Tyler Hall LB Micah Kiser RB Otis Anderson WR Landen Akers TE Kendall Blanton OT Chandler Brewer DE Earnest Brown IV DT Marquise Copeland DB Dont’e Deayon G Jeremiah Kolone LB Justin Lawler OT Max Pircher
Ravens practice squad
QB Trace McSorely TE Tony Poljan P Johnny Townsend OT Adrian Ealy LB Blake Gallagher OT Andre Smith WR Binjamin Victor DT Justin Ellis DB Anthony Levine Sr. K Jake Verity WR Jaylon Moore DB Jordan Richards DL Chris Smith
Saints practice squad
CB Brian Mills LB Wynton McManis WR Kevin White WR Kawaan Baker DL Josiah Bronson OT Caleb Benenoch CB Ka’Dar Hollman FB Sutton Smith TE Ethan Wolf DT Albert Huggins WR Easop Winston FB Alex Armah CB KeiVarae Russell
Seahawks practice squad
DT Myles Adams LB Aaron Donkor G Greg Eiland WR Aaron Fuller WR Penny Hart DT Jarrod Hewitt WR Cade Johnson RB Josh Johnson G Pier-Olivier Lestage TE Tyler Mabry DT Robert Nkemdiche CB John Reid WR Cody Thompson LB Jon Rhattigan
Steelers practice squad
OL John Leglue RB Jaylen Samuels WR Rico Bussey CB Mark Gilbert OLB Derrek Tuszka WR Cody White WR Steven Sims RB Trey Edmunds OL Chaz Green OL Malcolm Pridgeon OLB Christian Miller TE Kevin Rader DE Daniel Archibong DB Donovan Stiner S Karl Joseph
Texans practice squad
DE Derek Rivers OL Carson Green CB Isaiah Johnson QB Jeff Driskel WR Chris Moore TE Antony Auclair S Jonathan Owens OL Ryan McCollum WR Jordan Veasy DB Shyheim Carter CB Antonio Phillips OL Lane Taylor FB Paul Quessenberry OL Hjalte Froholdt LB Hardy Nickerson
Titans practice squad
TE Miller Forristall WR Mason Kinsey WR Dez Fitzpatrick TE MyCole Pruitt DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun S Jamal Carter FB Tory Carter OL Christian DiLauro OL Derwin Gray DL Woodrow Hamilton LB Jan Johnson DL Naquan Jones OL Jordan Roos QB Matt Barkley
Vikings practice squad
CB Tye Smith OT Zack Bailey WR Myron Mitchell WR Whop Philyor LB Tuf Borland FB Jake Bargas RB A. J. Rose Jr. OL Kyle Hinton DE Kenny Willekes TE Zach Davidson S Myles Dorn G Dakota Dozier RB Ameer Abdullah
Washington practice squad
RB Peyton Barber DL Bunmi Rotimi DE William Bradley-King DT Gabe Wright DL Daniel Wise OT David Steinmetz LB Jordan Kunaszyk WR Antonio Gandy-Golden C Keith Ismael G Beau Benzschawel G Wes Martin S Jeremy Reaves CB Danny Johnson C Jon Toth LB Jared Norris
MORE: Why did the Patriots cut Cam Newton?
How much are NFL practice squad players paid?
There are two NFL practice squad salary scales. The first group is comprised of rookies and players with two or fewer accrued seasons. The second is for the NFL veterans with no limit to the accrued seasons under their belts.
The first group is set to be paid $9,200 a week in 2020. This is up from $8,400 a week in 2020 and will continue to rise on a yearly basis through the duration of the NFL and NFLPA’s CBA deal in 2030.
Below are the weekly salaries of players with two or fewer accrued seasons through 2030.
The second group is paid more than the first group, as these players often have a lot of NFL experience under their belts. Right now, each player is receiving a fixed weekly salary, but beginning in 2022, their salaries will be within a negotiable price range.
Here’s a look at those contract values through 2030.
Practice squad contracts do not include guaranteed salaries, bonuses or incentives. They are entirely about the weekly check.
That said, if a player is promoted to the active roster for game day, they will receive a prorated cut of the minimum annual salary for a player with his number of accrued seasons. In 2020, that was 1/17 of the minimum. It seems likely to change to 1/18 of the minimum in 2021 due to the NFL’s change to a 17-game, 18-week schedule.
MORE: Which NFL teams have strongest, weakest schedules in 2021
How many players can be on an NFL practice squad?
For the second consecutive year, NFL teams will be allowed to carry 16 players on their practice squads in 2021. Previously, practice squad sizes had been limited to just 10 players. Initially, the league planned a practice squad expansion to 12 players in 2020 (with a second expansion to 14 coming in 2022), but they increased the allotment because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 16-player practice squad provided teams with roster flexibility and an opportunity to keep more players familiar with the system. That proved crucial during the COVID-impacted campaign, and as such, the league kept practice squad sizes at 16 for 2021.
Who is eligible for an NFL practice squad?
There are a few practice-squad rules related to service time.
Players on NFL practice squads usually fall into the following categories. They are:
Players who do not have an accrued season of NFL experience (rookies) Players who were on the active list for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s)
NFL teams have no limit on the amount of these players that can be on the practice squad. However, teams are also allowed to keep a handful of slightly more experienced players around. These rules were added recently to allow teams to keep some veteran talent and depth around outside of the active roster.
There are, however, limited on those players, which are as follows:
Up to four players per team who have earned no more than two accrued seasons (no game limitations) Up to six players per team with no limitations as to their number of earned accrued seasons
That’s why some recognizable players, like Josh McCown and Theo Riddick, have spent time on practice squads in recent seasons. Teams now have the flexibility needed to keep them around without using active roster spots.
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Can practice squad players play in games?
Only two practice squad players will be eligible to play in NFL games on a weekly basis. NFL teams are allowed to promote two players to the active roster for game days to expand the gameday roster to 55. This can occur any time before the official actives/inactives list is released 90 minutes before the game.
However, the other 14 players will not be on the active roster and, as a result, will not be able to play. And NFL teams aren’t obligated to promote players from the practice squad either, so they can opt to keep their gameday rosters at 53. Only 48 players are active for NFL games.
Can practice squad players sign with other teams?
Practice squad players are eligible to sign with other NFL teams but only if they are signed to another team’s 53-man roster. There are no practice squad to practice squad transactions.
NFL teams can also sign their own practice squad players to their 53-man roster. They just have to open up a roster spot to do so.
