Beyond the 53-Man Roster: Understanding Practice Squad Rules and Strategy

Washington Commanders Practice Squad Explained

When Chris Rodriguez Jr. was elevated from the practice squad in Week 12 of the 2024 season and rushed for 52 yards against Tennessee, it perfectly illustrated why understanding the practice squad matters. Rodriguez had been developing on the practice squad all season, waiting for his opportunity when Brian Robinson Jr. went down with an injury.

Understanding the practice squad isn't just about roster depth; it's about following how NFL teams build for the future whilst managing the demands of a 17-game season. The practice squad rules have undergone significant evolution in recent years, with expanded rosters and new elevation procedures that can either make or break a team's season.

This guide breaks down the current practice squad system, from eligibility rules to the International Player Pathway programme that's bringing more global talent into the NFL.

1. Practice Squad Basics

The practice squad is essentially a 16-player developmental roster that trains with the team but doesn't suit up on Sundays. Think of it as the reserve team in football, they're part of the club, learning the system, but waiting for their chance to step up.

Since 2024, teams can add a 17th player if they're an international player through the NFL's International Player Pathway programme. These players practice with the team throughout the week, helping prepare the starters by mimicking upcoming opponents while developing their skills.

Unlike the 53-man roster, practice squad players can be signed away by other teams at any time, but there's a catch we'll explain later.

2. The Rules That Matter

Eligibility for the practice squad breaks down into distinct categories:

• Players with no accrued NFL seasons (including rookies straight from the draft or undrafted free agents)

• Players who were on an active roster for fewer than nine games in their only accrued season

• Up to 10 players with no more than two accrued seasons

• Up to 6 veterans with unlimited accrued seasons

Here's the crucial bit: if you stack the squad with six full veterans, you're left with only four places for players who have one or two accrued seasons; the remaining ten must be true rookies or near-rookies. Teams must juggle these numbers wisely or risk cutting promising depth later in the year.

Getting to the Practice Squad: Waivers and Direct Signings

Most players must pass through the waiver system before joining a practice squad, but there are exceptions for direct signings.

The Waiver Process

When a team releases a player from their active roster, he doesn't immediately become a free agent. Instead, he goes on waivers, a 24-hour period during which the other 31 teams can claim him.

The waiver priority order follows the reverse order of the current standings (with the worst teams getting first dibs), except for the first three weeks, when it mirrors the draft order.

If a team claims a player off waivers, they inherit his existing contract. Multiple teams can submit claims, but the team with the highest waiver priority wins. If no team claims the player during the waiver period, he "clears waivers" and becomes a free agent, able to sign with any team's practice squad or active roster.

Direct Practice Squad Signings

• Teams can sign players directly to the practice squad without waivers in these situations:

• Undrafted free agents after the draft

• Players who have already cleared waivers

• Free agents not currently under contract

• Vested veterans who become immediate free agents when released

Why the Waiver System Exists

The waiver system serves two key purposes. First, it gives struggling teams first access to available talent.

Second, it prevents teams from simply releasing good players straight to their practice squad to circumvent roster limits, ensuring other teams get the first chance to claim promising talent for their active rosters.

There's an important exception: vested veterans (players with four or more accrued seasons) bypass waivers entirely from March through Week 8 of the regular season. They become immediate free agents upon release, giving them more control over their destination. After Week 8, even vested veterans must pass through waivers.

This system also prevents talented young players from securing comfortable practice squad spots on contending teams, as a franchise in need of immediate help might claim them.

During the season, waivers are processed daily at 4 pm ET, which is why you'll often see transaction news breaking in the late afternoon.

3. What Practice Squad Players Earn

For the 2025 season, practice squad salaries are:

• Players with 0-2 accrued seasons: $13,000 per week

• Veterans (2+ accrued seasons): $17,500-$22,000 per week

• Full season earnings: $234,000-$396,000

To put this in perspective, that's roughly equivalent to a Championship footballer's wages. Not bad for what some call "the taxi squad."

Important note: Practice squad salaries count against the team's salary cap in full, just like those of active roster players. There's no financial advantage to stashing players there versus keeping them on the active roster.

When another team poaches a practice squad player, there's a silver lining—the player gets a three-week salary guarantee at active roster rates, even if cut before then.

4. Game Day Elevations

Here's where it gets interesting. Teams can elevate two practice-squad players for each game without any roster gymnastics. Teams must declare their two call-ups no later than ninety minutes before kick-off, right before the inactives list is handed in.

A promotion bumps the match-day roster to 54 or 55 players. After the game, the player is automatically reverted to the practice squad on the first business day, and this move does not go on waivers. It's a risk free way to test players in real game situations.

Each player can be elevated a maximum of three times per season. After that third game, they must be signed to the active roster to be eligible to play again. Coaches use these elevations strategically—saving them for bye weeks, injury cover, or specific matchup advantages.

5. Tracking Practice Squad Moves

Key transaction terminology:

• "Elevated from practice squad" - temporary game-day promotion

• "Signed to active roster from practice squad" - permanent promotion

• "Signed to practice squad" - initial addition after clearing waivers

• "Released from practice squad" - cut entirely, free to sign anywhere

• Most transaction news breaks around 4 p.m. ET, as that's the NFL's daily transaction deadline.

6. Commanders Practice Squad History

Success stories include players like:

• Jeremy Reaves (an undrafted safety who became a special-teams captain)

• Cam Sims (practice squad to starting receiver)

• Steven Montez (bounced between the practice squad and the roster)

The flip side: when another club signs one of your practice squad players, he receives a guaranteed three-week salary and will count against the 53-man roster for at least three weeks, even if released before those three weeks are over.

This protection makes teams think twice before poaching, but the Commanders have still lost quality depth pieces over the years.

The current squad breakdown varies by season, but typically includes developmental quarterbacks, depth on the offensive line, and specialists for special teams.

7. Why This Matters

Practice squad players are tomorrow's starters. Following the practice squad helps you:

• Recognise names when injuries force emergency call-ups

• Appreciate the depth-building strategy beyond the headlines

• See how the team develops young talent over time

• Understand the full roster picture beyond just the 53-man squad

During injury crises, these are the players who step up. Knowing who's waiting in the wings gives you genuine insight into the team's contingency plans and long-term roster construction.

8. International Player Pathway

The 17th practice squad spot is reserved for international players. Players must have citizenship and principal residence outside the US and Canada, with a maximum of two years of US high school experience.

The Commanders currently have TJ Maguranyanga from Zimbabwe as their International Player Pathway participant.

International Pathway players can be elevated just like regular practice squad members, getting the same three opportunities per season. It's a genuine route from rugby, Gaelic football, or other sports into the NFL.

The pathway programme runs annual combines, with UK representation growing each year.

Understanding the practice squad—where future stars develop and depth is built—gives you the full picture of how an NFL team operates. These 16 (or 17) players might not make Sunday highlights, but they're essential to the Commanders' success.