There had been reports over the past few days suggesting NFL practice squads could increase from eight to ten players for the upcoming season.
On Tuesday, those reports became a reality.
Not only with NFL practice squads be able to hold ten players for the 2014-15 NFL regular season, but the new agreement extends into the 2015-16 as well. After a two-year trial period, the practice squads will return to eight players unless a new agreement is reached.
From Kevin Seifert of ESPN:
#NFL practice squad agreement is for 2 years. Release says "barring extension," back to 8 in 2016. Two-year trial for league, NFLPA.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 19, 2014
There are also some changes to what players will be practice squad eligible.
In previous years, a player was no longer practice squad eligible if he played in more than half of the games in a prior season.
That will now change and players can play 32 games without losing their practice squad eligibility.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe shared more information:
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
This is obviously great news for the NFL, teams around the league and players who are on the brink of making a NFL roster.
It will also help with player development moving forward, which is something that the NFL has been dedicated to finding a solution to.