NFL increases team practice squads from eight to 10 players

The NFL has changed the rules for team practice squads, including an increase from eight to 10 players, the league announced Tuesday.

The NFL has changed the rules for team practice squads, including an increase from eight to 10 players, the league announced Tuesday.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports that the release says the practice squad agreement is for two years. Unless there is an extension, the practice squad will go back to eight in 2016.

The changes were discussed in March by the league's competition committee.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports the changes will help NFL players who are on the verge of making the team's roster, even if they have appeared in an NFL game the season before.

Until now, a player lost practice squad eligibility if he played in 9 games in a single season....

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) August 19, 2014

Now, he can play in all 32 games in his first 2 seasons and still retain practice squad eligibility

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) August 19, 2014

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Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Tuesday that he thought the increase was a good idea.

"I think it’s awesome. They could give us as many as they want to. If it goes to 10, I think it’s great. It’s an opportunity to keep your players, continue to train them, train those guys. It gives them an opportunity for an NFL job. So we’ve never looked at it as having 53 players. We always talk in terms of having 61, and I’ll be thrilled if it goes to 63."

- Sarah Barshop