Are We Finally Sure Of Practice Squad Rules? I'm Not.

[mgteich]

Jennings is back on the 53 for the week. If Vrabel likes Jennings enough, he might just keep him on the 53 and move on.

Can Jennings be put on the Practice Squad after this game and be eligible for 3 more elevations? If so, I see little reason to use a roster spot for Jennings unless Vrabel wants Jennings for the future. We now have 3 others who could be elevated on Game Day if needed.

 

[Toofy]

I heard we cannot move to ps after 3 game day elevations unless you release him and if he goes unclaimed move him back to PS which resets the game day activation clock again .

 

[mgteich]

I heard we cannot move to ps after 3 game day elevations unless you release him and if he goes unclaimed move him back to PS which resets the game day activation clock again .

I know that he has to be subject to claims.

But that is true each week that he is on the Practice Squad. Can't any team simply claim him off the Practice Squad on Wednesday in any week. How is this different for being claimed when we cut him from the 53?

 

[Zuma]

Thank god a new thread.

I'd like to see Jennings get more carries...more then 5-minutes worth. 10ish per game and along with a reception would be nice.



“I think we all want Terrell here,” Patriots head Mike Vrabel said during his day-after press conference. “So, however we have to handle that, I mean, the only other option is just to bring him up. He’s been a good addition. He’s been prepared for his opportunity. He’s helped on special teams, had a tackle yesterday on kickoff. And so, those are all really good things. I think he’s a good teammate. So, yeah, I think that’s only probably procedural at the end of the week.”

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I heard we cannot move to ps after 3 game day elevations unless you release him and if he goes unclaimed move him back to PS which resets the game day activation clock again .

The CBA explicitly states that the elevation limit does not reset in that scenario. It's 3 elevations per team per season.

 

[n1997y]

The CBA explicitly states that the elevation limit does not reset in that scenario. It's 3 elevations per team per season.

They changed the language on that after the pandemic. It’s still a bit opaque though.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I know that he has to be subject to claims.

But that is true each week that he is on the Practice Squad. Can't any team simply claim him off the Practice Squad on Wednesday in any week. How is this different for being claimed when we cut him from the 53?

No one is claimed off the practice squad, they’re signed. That means the player can turn the other team down if he wants, or (more likely), tell the Pats brass he’ll leave unless they promote him to the 53 here.

Whereas in the waiver / claim scenario, the player doesn’t have a choice.

But yes - in theory, last week after he reverted to the practice squad, Jennings could have received an offer to join the 53 from another team, accepted it, and left.

 

[jmt57]

2025 NFL Operations
Elevations are all the way to the bottom.

I read this as a maximum of three elevations, with no resetting - though the wording could have been much better in that regard.

Contract Language | NFL Football Operations

Complete guide to NFL contract terms, salary structures, and player compensation rules.

operations.nfl.com

Each practice squad players can be elevated for a maximum of three regular season games in the same League Year. After this, any subsequent elevation of the player will require the team to add him to their 53-man Active/Inactive List. The team must then waive or terminate his player contract before the player can be re-signed to the Practice Squad. If the player is re-signed to the Practice Squad this way, the player is again eligible to be elevated for the previously mentioned maximum of three games.

 

[mgteich]

Are we dealing with two different dates of the CBA or perhaps an amendment?

 

[DaBruinz]

Thank god a new thread.

I'd like to see Jennings get more carries...more then 5-minutes worth. 10ish per game and along with a reception would be nice.



“I think we all want Terrell here,” Patriots head Mike Vrabel said during his day-after press conference. “So, however we have to handle that, I mean, the only other option is just to bring him up. He’s been a good addition. He’s been prepared for his opportunity. He’s helped on special teams, had a tackle yesterday on kickoff. And so, those are all really good things. I think he’s a good teammate. So, yeah, I think that’s only probably procedural at the end of the week.”

It's MG. It's his modus operandi. Make another unneeded thread.

 

[Toofy]

2025 NFL Operations
Elevations are all the way to the bottom.

I read this as a maximum of three elevations, with no resetting - though the wording could have been much better in that regard.

Contract Language | NFL Football Operations

Complete guide to NFL contract terms, salary structures, and player compensation rules.

operations.nfl.com

Each practice squad players can be elevated for a maximum of three regular season games in the same League Year. After this, any subsequent elevation of the player will require the team to add him to their 53-man Active/Inactive List. The team must then waive or terminate his player contract before the player can be re-signed to the Practice Squad. If the player is re-signed to the Practice Squad this way, the player is again eligible to be elevated for the previously mentioned maximum of three games.

The way the language is worded looks like it is reset. Because here the player is released after reaching the max limit. Why do they need to again call the 3 game limit after release and addition to PS . They could very well have stated that no more elevations possible as player has reached the limit earlier .

 

[TommyD4207]

************ another thread on this.

 

[jmt57]

The way the language is worded looks like it is reset. Because here the player is released after reaching the max limit. Why do they need to again call the 3 game limit after release and addition to PS . They could very well have stated that no more elevations possible as player has reached the limit earlier .

It's so poorly worded it could be legitimately interpreted either way.

Two elevations, waived re-signed, and one more elevation for the maximum of three?
That's the way I read it.

But yeah, I could also see it meaning up to three, get waived, and now you have a reset for up to three more elevations.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The way the language is worded looks like it is reset. Because here the player is released after reaching the max limit. Why do they need to again call the 3 game limit after release and addition to PS . They could very well have stated that no more elevations possible as player has reached the limit earlier .

The CBA explicitly says that there is a new limit if a player signs with a different team, but not if they stay with their old team.

 

[raduray]

If he performs well when he's elevated and then gets relegated to the PS, can't another team then poach him to their 53?

 

[Pape]

The CBA explicitly says that there is a new limit if a player signs with a different team, but not if they stay with their old team.

That is incorrect.The CBA quite literally addresses the issue and allows for this


NFL Operations. emphasis mine, last paragraph on the cited page
"Standard Elevation Addendum

Now included in all practice squad contracts, the standard elevation addendum allows teams to move a player from the practice squad to the active/inactive list for one week and then back to the practice squad without subjecting him to waivers. Under this addendum, a player reverts back to his team's practice squad on the first business day after the game in which he is elevated.

These players receive the applicable minimum salary for a player with his number of credited seasons (prorated for one week of regular season pay or the applicable postseason amount). This clause can be used by a team for a maximum of two regular-season or postseason games per player per season.

Each practice squad players can be elevated for a maximum of three regular season games in the same League Year. After this, any subsequent elevation of the player will require the team to add him to their 53-man Active/Inactive List. The team must then waive or terminate his player contract before the player can be re-signed to the Practice Squad. If the player is re-signed to the Practice Squad this way, the player is again eligible to be elevated for the previously mentioned maximum of three games."


the Collective Bargaining Agreement states:
"
If the Club requests waivers on the player’s NFL Player Contract and that contract
is not claimed by another Club, or if the Club terminates the player’s contract, the player
shall become a free agent and shall be free to sign an NFL Player Contract or a Practice Squad Player Contract with any Club, including the Club that requested waivers or terminated the contract. If the player’s NFL Player Contract is not claimed, or if the contract is
terminated, and the player subsequently signs a Practice Squad Player Contract with a new
Club, nothing shall preclude the signing Club from elevating the player to its Active/In-
active List up to a maximum combination of two regular season or postseason games,
subject to the rules set forth in this Section 5. "
--
Terminate the players contract. Re-sign the player to a new deal it resets the number of eligible call ups.



-----------

This is not nebulous wording. It is. in fact, quite clear and deliberate in its messaging - If you terminate or waive a player contract, the team that releases the player can resign him to a new practice squad deal and he can be called up three more times.

The reasoning behind this is it allows practice squad players to be on the 53 man roster for six games in a season... Six games is a very important number.

The team benefits because the player is cheap and it benefits the player in regards to free agency.... Six games is important because that is the definition of an "accrued season" in terms of NFL contracts.... Its a huge benefit for players who are on the practice squad... The number of accrued seasons is what is used to determine free agency - exclusive rights free agent, a restricted free agent, or an unrestricted free agent.

 

[Family]

I liked it better when it was called the taxi squad.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That is incorrect.The CBA quite literally addresses the issue and allows for this


NFL Operations. emphasis mine, last paragraph on the cited page
"Standard Elevation Addendum

Now included in all practice squad contracts, the standard elevation addendum allows teams to move a player from the practice squad to the active/inactive list for one week and then back to the practice squad without subjecting him to waivers. Under this addendum, a player reverts back to his team's practice squad on the first business day after the game in which he is elevated.

These players receive the applicable minimum salary for a player with his number of credited seasons (prorated for one week of regular season pay or the applicable postseason amount). This clause can be used by a team for a maximum of two regular-season or postseason games per player per season.

Each practice squad players can be elevated for a maximum of three regular season games in the same League Year. After this, any subsequent elevation of the player will require the team to add him to their 53-man Active/Inactive List. The team must then waive or terminate his player contract before the player can be re-signed to the Practice Squad. If the player is re-signed to the Practice Squad this way, the player is again eligible to be elevated for the previously mentioned maximum of three games."


the Collective Bargaining Agreement states:
"
If the Club requests waivers on the player’s NFL Player Contract and that contract
is not claimed by another Club, or if the Club terminates the player’s contract, the player
shall become a free agent and shall be free to sign an NFL Player Contract or a Practice Squad Player Contract with any Club, including the Club that requested waivers or terminated the contract. If the player’s NFL Player Contract is not claimed, or if the contract is
terminated, and the player subsequently signs a Practice Squad Player Contract with a new
Club, nothing shall preclude the signing Club from elevating the player to its Active/In-
active List up to a maximum combination of two regular season or postseason games,
subject to the rules set forth in this Section 5. "
--

One, you missed the word NEW in the CBA quote. Two, you stopped quoting a sentence too early.

If a Practice Squad Player: (i) has been elevated to a Club’s Active/Inactive List for either one or two games pursuant to this Subsection 5; and (ii) the Club subsequently requests waivers on or terminates his NFL Player Contract, or if the Club terminates his Practice Squad Player Contract; and (iii) thereafter resigns the player to its Practice Squad, the player may not be elevated to that Club’s Active/Inactive List pursuant to this Section 5 for the remainder of that regular or postseason.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Are we dealing with two different dates of the CBA or perhaps an amendment?

The original 2020 CBA (which I and Pape have quoted) limited elevations to two per team per season. The NFL and NFLPA (apparently) signed a side deal agreement to raise that number to three.

 

[Pape]

One, you missed the word NEW in the CBA quote. Two, you stopped quoting a sentence too early.

I didn't miss it. It is not the governing mechanic clause. That's why its at the end of the paragraph. The clause you are referring to sets the limit on the number of times this can be done. A team can do the reset once. Six games and afterwards the player either needs to be released or set on the 53 man roster. The governing language is this:
"If a Practice Squad Player: (i) has been elevated to a Club’s Active/Inactive List for either one or two games pursuant to this
Subsection 5"

If is the key word here. IF he has already been thru this once, then it cannot be done again. The first part of the clause is the controlling clause in the section. That is born out in the NFL Operations Manual, where quite literally the rules of the game said you can do this.