Understanding NFL roster rules changes for 2020

The new roster rules are confusing as hell, but here's how they work:

- Rosters are still technically set at 53. This means the final roster cut will be 53 players, which will be by 4 p.m. (EDT) on September 5, 2020.

- Practice Squad is 12 players, expanded from 10. Each week, a team can call up two PS players to the roster, effectively expanding the roster to 55 during the season. This means that those promoted PS players will be eligible for the gameday active roster. EDIT - Any single PS player can only be "elevated" to the roster two times in a season.

- Gameday active rosters will be 48 instead of 46. But one of the two additional spots must be filled by an OL.


So what does this mean? First, it means that cut down day won't be 55 players, like many are suggesting. But with the expanded PS size and eligibility to play, teams are going to be very active in their PS recruiting and signing. It's going to be a very interesting.

It also means that the transaction wire during the week (moving of players up and down from the practice squad) will be much more active. And with the expanded options for PS players to make gameday active rosters, it might give more opportunity to see these guys play. EDIT - Note that it appears PS players can still be poached by another team's primary 53-man roster, even when "elevated" to the roster for a game.

Rosters are going to be very interesting in 2020.


https://operations.nfl.com/football-ops/league-governance/2020-important-nfl-dates/
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...prove-cba-impact-on-league-in-2020-and-beyond