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NFL practice squad rules: What players are eligible, how much are they paid, and who could sign with the Broncos

The Broncos will build their practice squad this weekend.

By Jon Heath
(Jon Heath-Mile High Report)

The Denver Broncos must trim their roster from 75 players to 53 players by 2 p.m. MT today. Because safety T.J. Ward (suspension) and defensive end Derek Wolfe (suspension) will not start the season on the team's active roster, Denver only has to make 20 cuts. The team may also make a few trades, as Montee Ball and at least one inside linebacker appear to be in the trading block.

[Related: 53-man roster and 10-man practice squad projection]

You can follow all of Denver's moves with our live cut tracker here.

After the Broncos reach the final 53 for the active roster, they will begin building their 10-man practice squad. The team can begin signing players to the practice squad at 10 a.m MT on Sunday. Below, find everything you need to know about NFL practice squad rules, eligibility, salary, and some candidates for the Broncos.

How many players on the practice squad?

Ten. In year's past it was eight, but the NFL increased it to 10 in 2014.

What players are eligible for the practice squad?

In order to be eligible for the practice squad, players must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Have no prior Accrued Seasons in the NFL (An accrued season is six or more games on the active roster);
  • Have one prior Accrued Season in which the player was on the 45-man active roster for no more than 8 games;
  • Each club will be permitted to sign a maximum of 2 Practice Squad players who have earned no more than 2 accrued seasons of free agency credit;
  • If served two seasons on a practice squad, are eligible for a third season only if the team has at least 53 players on its active/inactive list for the duration of that player's employment.
  • A player has served one season on the practice squad if he is on the practice squad for at least 6 games. The rule previously required 3 games on the practice squad roster.

How much are practice squad players paid?

Last year, practice squad players were paid a minimum of $6,300 per week. Players can be paid more than that, and their salaries do count against the team's salary cap.

Can other teams sign another team's practice squad player?

Teams can sign a player off another team's practice squad if they are adding them to their own active roster, with one exception. A player may not sign a contract with his team's next opponent after 1 p.m. PT six days preceding the game (10 days preceding in bye weeks). A team may not sign a player off another team's practice squad to join their own practice squad. But if a practice squad player is released, he is allowed to sign with another practice squad.

Can a player be moved from the practice squad to the active roster?

Yes. But if a player signs with another team's 53-man roster, or is promoted to his own team's 53-man roster, the player must be paid for at least 3 weeks of at least league minimum salary. They can be released before the 3 weeks is up, but they still have to be paid. There is an exception to that called the Contagious Disease Addendum (read more about that here).

Who are some candidates to sign with the Broncos' practice squad this year?

Candidates include Joe Don Duncan, Jordan Taylor, Corbin Louks, Dillon Day, Ben Garland, Kapri Bibbs, Josh Furman, Taurean Nixon, Zaire Anderson, and Lorenzo Doss, among others. Denver can also sign players cut from other teams.

To recap: Cut down to final 53 today, 10-man practice squad built by tomorrow.

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NFL practice squad rules: What players are eligible, how much are they paid, and who could sign with the Broncos

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