The Miami Dolphins completed their roster cuts on Tuesday, dropping from 91 players on the roster to the league’s 53-man regular season limit. The moves came throughout the day, eventually working to 24 offensive players, 26 defensive players, and two special teamers. Now, the fun begins.
Starting on Wednesday, once the waiver wire transactions are complete, Miami will be able to sign players to the practice squad. This group of players is primarily younger players who need more development time but will be sprinkled with veterans who could quickly find themselves on the field on game day.
We will keep up with all of the rumors, reports, signings, and changes as the practice squad is filled. Keep in mind, reports can be made, then the player land with another team when a better offer is made. Typically, the first players signed are players the team just cut, but there will be some moves to bring in free agent veterans or players from other teams as well.
We also have all the rules for the practice squad so you can make sure to keep up with everything.
When can players be signed?
Teams can begin signing players to their practice squad at 12 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. Prior to that start time, the league will complete the claims process for any players who were subject to waivers rather than receiving an outright release.
Players with less than four accrued seasons in the NFL must go through the waivers process. To accrue a season of service time in the NFL, a player must be on a roster (to include injured reserve time) for more than six games in a season. Players on the practice squad are not receiving that service time (and that is why you will see players who are listed as in their first year, but not a rookie, on team rosters).
Players with more than four accrued seasons a released by their former team and do not have to go through the waivers process. They are immediately considered free agents and can sign with another team – either their 53-man roster or onto the practice squad.
How many players can be on the practice squad?
Teams are limited to 16 players on the practice squad – with a 17th allocation authorized for a developmental player in the league’s International Pathway Program. The Dolphins waived rookie offensive lineman Bayron Matos on Tuesday, but likely will bring him back to the practice squad as that 17th player.
Who is eligible for the practice squad?
The 16 standard allocations for the practice squad have some limits on who can be signed to those positions. Ten of the slots are restricted to players with less than two accrued seasons in the NFL. The other six positions are not limited and can be used to sign veteran players who have been in the league for more than two seasons.
For 2024, players with less than two accrued seasons will earn $13,000 per week on the practice squad. For veteran players over two years, the salary starts at $17,500 per week but can be negotiated to as high as $22,000 per week.
The practice squad salaries do count against a team’s salary cap.
What is “poaching”?
A practice squad player is free to sign with another team as long as they are signing to the 53-man roster. Colloquially termed “poaching,” the player joins the new team, with a requirement that the player be on the 53-man roster for at least three weeks. A team can release them early, but they still must pay them for the three weeks of work.
To limit a team from signing a player off the practice squad of their next opponent, potentially gaining game plan information, there are restrictions for those signings. A team may not sign a practice squad player from an upcoming opponent within six days of the scheduled game. That restriction is extended to 10 days if the team is on their bye week.
Players on a practice squad may be promoted to their team’s active roster anytime. It is a transaction of signing a player like a free agent, with a corresponding roster move to free up a slot on the 53-man roster.
Teams can also elevate a player to the active roster, which is different from a promotion. Up to three times per season, a practice squad player may be designated as available for a game without being added to the 53-man roster. They are elevated for game day but then revert to the practice squad after the game. This gives teams some flexibility and depth options, especially if a player on the 53-man roster is injured and cannot play but is not hurt enough to warrant placing them on injured reserve.
Teams are allowed two elevations per game, giving them a potential pool of 55 players each week to construct their game-day roster. Teams are only authorized to have 48 players active for the game.
8/26, 8:15 p.m. Eastern – The Dolphins tried out four free agent kickers on Wednesday. The team could look to sign one of them to the practice squad as a temporary replacement for the injured Jason Sanders.
