- - NFL practice squad tracker: Team-by-team live updates after roster cut day

Jack McKessy, USA TODAYAugust 27, 2025 at 10:03 PM

NFL practice squad tracker: Team-by-team live updates after roster cut day

The NFL's roster cut deadline day was on Tuesday. All 32 teams had to trim rosters from 90 to 53 players ahead of a 4 p.m. ET deadline.

But for many players, getting waived ahead of the deadline does not mean they'll need to open their LinkedIn to find a cushy, corporate job, even if another team does not claim them.

Every team will be adding some of the players it waived to its practice squad. Those lucky candidates will join a pool of more than a dozen extra players on the team's payroll that can be called up to the active roster during the season if needed.

Practice squads will begin to take shape on Wednesday at noon ET, when teams can start signing players.

USA TODAY Sports will be tracking practice squad signings throughout the day.

ROSTER CUTS: Tracker for all of Tuesday's most notable NFL transactions

What is a practice squad?

A practice squad is an extra group of players a team can have in reserves that do not count toward its 53-man roster limit. Those players participate in weekly practices and help rostered players prepare for their matchups each week.

Practice squad players can be promoted to the roster as extra help in case of injuries to active players or if teams feel like they've developed enough to earn a spot on the roster.

Who is eligible to make a practice squad?

Any player with any level of experience – from rookie to multi-year veteran – can be on an NFL practice squad, though there are some limitations on how many veterans each team can carry.

Ten of a team's practice squad players must be either rookies or second-year players. Teams are allowed only six three-plus-year veterans on their practice squads.

How many players are on an NFL practice squad?

In total, 17 players are allowed on an NFL practice squad. Ten of them must be either rookies or second-year players. Veterans can occupy a maximum of six practice squad spots. One player of the 17 must also be an international player – specifically, a member of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program.

If a team has no international player on its practice squad, it would be capped at 16 players on the reserve group.

How much money do practice squad players make?

First- and second-year players make $13,000 per week during the season. That's $234,000 over 18 weeks.

Players with more than two years of NFL experience typically earn a minimum of $17,500 per week, which translates to $315,000 over 18 weeks.

Practice squad players also do not count against a team's salary cap. Only the 53 players on the active roster affect a team's cap space.

NFL practice squad candidates in 2025

The following players have been marked as potential practice squad candidates by various NFL insiders.

Jordan Clark, DB, New York Jets

Cobee Bryant, CB, Atlanta Falcons

Xavier Restrepo, WR, Tennessee Titans

Sam Hartman, QB, Washington Commanders

Tank Lichtenhan, OT, Baltimore Ravens

Elijah Chatman, DL, New York Giants

Cam Horsley, DT, Tennessee Titans

Sam Roberts, DL, Carolina Panthers

Eku Leota, Edge, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tyler Huntley, QB, Cleveland Browns

Trent Brown, OT, Houston Texans

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL practice squad tracker with live updates ahead of 2025 season

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