NFL rosters are only a 53-man ordeal in name. Really, they're the 53 on the active roster and the 16 on the practice squad.
What started as a "taxi squad" of fill-ins for the Browns in the 1940s -- to circumvent payroll rules, team owner Arthur McBride listed them as employees of his taxi company, even though they did no work there -- has evolved into a crucial component of team building. Practice squads have grown from just a handful of players to 16 since 2020. International Pathway Program players can also be afforded a spot without counting against the 16.
The 2020 rule change not only opened the door to more spots but also to more meaningful ones. Teams can now elevate two practice-squad players per week, and players can be activated up to three times per season. After that, they have to be added to the active roster to play. Furthermore, the days of the practice squad being solely young players are long gone. Six of the 17 players can have previous NFL experience.
NFL waiver wire order for 2026: Where all 32 teams rank after roster cuts, plus a practice squad explainer
Tyler Sullivan
Finding the right combination of young players with upside, veterans who can play immediately if needed and depth at crucial spots is a difficult and highly competitive enterprise. After roster cuts on Sunday, teams began filling their practice squad on Monday.
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Eugene Asante
- TE Shawn Bowman
- DL Cam Horsley
- RB Evan Hull
- OL Demontrey Jacobs
- CB Kalen King
- OL Matt Pryor
- TE Teagan Quitoriano
- LB Cameron Robertson
- OL Valentin Senn -- IPP player
- WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- CB Starling Thomas V
- WR Harrison Wallace III
- DL Damonic Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- DT Carlos Allen Jr.
- WR Vinny Anthony II
- OL James Brockermeyer
- CB Cobee Bryant
- OL Kam Dewberry
- WR Dylan Drummond
- RB Tyler Goodson
- CB Darnay Holmes
- RB Cash Jones
- OL Riley Mahlman
- TE Nick Muse
- DE Cameron Sample
- TE Jack Velling
- WR Antwane Wells Jr.
- LB Josh Woods
Baltimore Ravens
- WR Chris Moore
- CB Amani Oruwariye
- S K'Von Wallace
- RB Jonathan Ward
- DL David Olajiga -- IPP player
- TE Ty Pezza
- DL Rayshaun Benny
- OLB Adisa Isaac
- OLB Kaimon Rucker
- C Nick Dawkins
- K Jake Moody
- WR Xavier Guillory
- OL Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan
- LB Dominic Deluca
- LB Carl Jones Jr.
Buffalo Bills
- CB Kani Walker
- LB Keonta Jenkins
- RB Frank Gore Jr.
- WR Greg Dortch
- WR Trent Sherfield
- WR Ja'Mori Maclin
- WR Stephen Gosnell
- OLB Andre Jones Jr.
- DB Te'Cory Couch
- OL Chase Lundt
- QB Shane Buechele
- S Geno Stone
- DL Travis Clayton (IPP)
- OL Nick Broeker
- CB Anthony Kendall
- LB Shaq Thompson
- OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- WR David Moore
- S Isaiah Simmons
- OTJake Curhan
- OLB Cam Gill
- WR Ja'seem Reed
- CB Corey Thornton
- OL Isaia Glass
- CB DeVonta Smith
- WR Casey Washington
- DT Parker Petersen
- RB Anthony Tyus III
- LB Mapalo Mwansa -- IPP player
Chicago Bears
- RB Salvon Ahmed
- G Caden Barnett
- TE Stephen Carlson
- DE Marcus Davenport
- WR Kaden Davis
- G Kyle Hergel
- LB Wayne Matthews
- WR Scott Miller
- DB Deantre Prince
- WR J.P. Richardson
- DB Marlen Sewell
Cleveland Browns
- WR Bub Means
- EDGE Logan Fano
- CB Myles Bryant
- OL KT Leveston
- P Wes Pahl
- CB D'Angelo Ross
- DL Tyreak Sapp
- DE Khordae Sydnor
- S Zion Washington
- LB Nathaniel Watson
- WR Kole Wilson
Cincinnati Bengals
- RB Kentrel Bullock
- QB Sean Clifford
- DT Howard Cross III
- DL Isaiah Foskey
- LB Joe Giles-Harris
- LB Shaka Heyward
- CB Bralyn Lux
- RB Kendall Milton
- WR Jordan Moore
- WR Noah Thomas
- S Russ Yeast
Dallas Cowboys
- RB Israel Abanikanda
- LB Justin Barron
- DT Tommy Dunn Jr.
- WR Jordan Hudson
- OT Marcellus Johnson
- CB Derion Kendrick
- WR Anthony Smith
- TE Michael Trigg
- OLB Isaiah Land
- OL Nick Leverett
- DT Adedayo Odeleye -- IPP player
- LB Curtis Robinson
- CB Reddy Steward
- OT Wanya Morris
Denver Broncos
- WR Michael Bandy
- FB Adam Prentice
- LS Mitchell Fraboni
- TE Lucas Krull
- WR Kolbe Katsis
- LS Luke Basso
- OLB Johnny Walker Jr.
- OLB David Agoha -- IPP player
- OL Calvin Throckmorton
- CB Brent Austin
- OL Gavin Ortega
- OL Tyler Miller
- LB Red Murdock
- S Miles Scott
- DB Sean Fresch Jr.
- WR Dane Key
- RB Cody Schrader
Detroit Lions
- QB Luke Altmyer
- LB Joe Bachie
- DB Aamaris Brown
- OL Devin Cochran
- TE Thomas Gordon
- WR Lucky Jackson
- WR Tom Kennedy
- EDGE Anthony Lucas
- G Mason Miller
- LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
- DL Chris Smith
- DL Ben Stille
- DL Tyre West
- CB Nick Whiteside
Green Bay Packers
- T Dalton Cooper
- DT Jaden Crumedy
- TE Drake Dabney
- G Josh Gesky
- WR Chris Hilton Jr.
- CB Domani Jackson
- EDGE Nyjalik Kelly
- S Murvin Kenion III
- EDGE Arron Mosby
- WR Isaiah Neyor
- RB Pierre Strong Jr.
- G Dillon Wade
- LB Kristian Welch
Houston Texans
- DT Dominic Bailey
- WR Lewis Bond
- CB Bryce Hall
- LB Jamal Hill
- CB Alijah Huzzie
- RB Jawhar Jordan
- WR Josh kelly
- OT James Neal III
- S George Odum
- WR Daniel Sobkowicz
- RB Noah Whittington
Indianapolis Colts
- OT Roy Mbaeteka -- IPP player
- DT Cameron Ball
- RB Ulysses Bentley IV
- TE Pharaoh Brown
- WR Anthony Gould
- CB Kenneth Harris
- DE Mitchell Melton
- T Nolan Rucci
- S Daniel Scott
- G Josh Sills
- S Trey Washington
- LB West Weeks
- WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Jacksonville Jaguars
- QB Joey Aguilar
- DT T.J. Bollers
- WR Tim Jones
- LB Jack Kiser
- LB Jalen McLeod
- QB Nick Mullens
- CB Jabbar Muhammad
- OL Jimto Obidegwu
- WR Trebor Pena
- S Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig
- RB J'Mari Taylor
- WR Austin Trammell
- WR Michael Wortham
- OL Kilian Zierer -- IPP player
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Andrew Armstrong
- DT Cole Brevard
- LB Cole Christiansen
- WR Omari Evans
- LB Cam Jones
- S Tanner McCalister
- C Pete Nygra
- DE Emmanuel Ogbah
- RB Jaydn Ott
- CB D'Arco Perkins-McCallister
- S DeShon Singleton
- DE Tyreke Smith
Las Vegas Raiders
- DT Brandon Cleveland
- DE Jahfari Harvey
- RB Roman Hemby
- T Niklas Henning
- S Devin Lafayette
- K Kansei Matsuzawa
- LB Cameron McGrone
- T Kamar Missouri
- TE Chris Myarick
- RB Dare Ogunbowale
- TE Albert Okwuegbunam
- C Will Putnam
- DE Cian Slone
- WR Deven Thompkins
- CB Greedy Vance Jr.
- WR Cody White
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Lander Barton
- OLB Andre Carter
- DL Jahmeer Carter
- LB Junior Colson
- RB Gregory Desrosiers Jr.
- WR Gary Jennings
- RB Amar Johnson
- C Josh Kaltenberger
- CB Nikko Reed
- WR Devonte Ross
- TE Evan Svoboda
- OLB Nadame Tucker
- QB DJ Uiagalelei
- T Laekin Vakalahi
- CB Isas Waxter
- DL Terry Webb
Los Angeles Rams
- S Nick Andersen
- WR Alex Bachman
- OL Austin Blaske
- P Jack Bouwmeester -- IPP player
- RB Dean Connors
- CB Nyzier Fourqurean
- OL Blake Hance
- S Tanner Ingle
- DT Tim Keenan III
- CB Cam Lampkin
- DL Larrell Murchison
- ILB Elias Neal
- DL Bill Norton
- OLB Darryl Peterson III
- WR Brennan Presley
- TE Dan Villari
- RB Jordan Waters
Miami Dolphins
- QB Mark Gronowski
- S Major Burns
- T Gottlieb Ayedze
- TE Jeremiah Franklin
- RB Jarquez Hunter
- EDGE Rodney McGraw
- WR Jalen Reagor
- ILB Cam Riley
- RB Carlos Washington Jr.
Minnesota Vikings
- CB Da'Veawn Armstead
- WR Michael Briscoe
- G Henry Byrd
- C Gavin Gerhardt
- G Joshua Gray
- S Kahlef Hailassie
- LB Bangally Kamara
- TE Marshall Lang
- OL Tristan Leigh
- T Jack Nelson
- CB Bryce Phillips
- DL Jahvaree Ritzie
- WR Trayvon Rudolph
- OLB Cam'Ron Stewart
- S Tavierre Thomas
New England Patriots
- S Mike Brown
- WR Kyle Dixon
- WR Cameron Dorner
- DT Eric Gregory
- RB Hassan Haskins
- RB Lan Larison
- T Lorenz Metz
- DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
- OL Jacob Rizy
- CB Kindle Vildor
- LB Riley Wilson
- P Mitch Wishnowsky
New Orleans Saints
- EDGE Fadil Diggs
- RB CJ Donaldson
- CB TJ Hall Jr.
- T Alan Herron
- T Easton Kilty
- WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper
- WR Trey Palmer
- LB Jackson Sirmon
- K Charlie Smyth -- IPP player
- DL Jay'Viar Suggs
- RB Zamir White
- T Alex Wollschlaeger
New York Giants
- QB Jake Haener
- WR Jalin Hyatt
- WR Dalen Cambre
- WR Braxton Berrios
- TE/FB Grant Finley
- OL Ryan Schernecke
- OL Jarrod Gray -- IPP player
- DL Ben Barten
- DL Josh Tupou
- OLB Trace Ford
- ILB Chandler Martin
- DB JT Woods
- S Raheem Layne
New York Jets
- CB Mory Bamba
- WR Cam Camper
- CB Jordan Clark
- EDGE Paschal Ekeji -- IPP player
- OL Marquis Hayes
- DL Jack Helfin
- RB Al-Jay Henderson
- LB Jaden Keller
- EDGE Nate Lynn
- WR Malik McClain
- OL Xaiver Newman
- DL Payton Page
- WR Jamaal Pritchett
- LB Troy Reeder
- K Jason Sanders
- CB Sam Womack
Philadelphia Eagles
- DT Uar Bernard
- LB Chance Campbell
- WR Britain Covey
- DT Gabe Hall
- OLB Keyshawn James-Newby
- C/G Jake Majors
- T John Ojukwu
- RB Dameon Pierce
- S Maximus Pulley
- OLB Mason Reiger
- RB Carson Steele
- OLB Joshua Weru
- S Cole Wisniewski
- RB Jaydon Blue (via ESPN)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- S Juanyeh Thomas
- OL Doug Nester
- RB Lew Nichols
- RB Travis Homer
- TE Lake McRee
- OL Steven Jones
- DL Esezi Otomewo
- DL Kyler Baugh
- DB Sebastian Castro
- DB Doneiko Slaughter
- LB Jacoby Windmon
- EDGE Julius Welschof
- WR Max Hurleman
- WR Brandon Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- TE Khalil Dinkins
- LB Jalen Graham
- WR Wesley Grimes
- WR KhaDarel Hodge
- RB Sincere McCormick
- OL Drake Nugent
- DL Ogbo Okoronkwo
- WR Will Pauling
- CB Jakob Robinson
- S Jalen Stroman
- DL Sebastian Valdez
- LS Jon Weeks
- OL Isaac Alarcon -- IPP player
Seattle Seahawks
- T Logan Brown
- CB Michael Dansby
- CB Trevon Diggs
- NT Deven Eastern
- S AJ Finley
- CB Andre Fuller
- WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
- WR Julian Hicks
- S Maxen Hook
- DE Aidan Hubbard
- LB Marvin Jones
- RB Velus Jones Jr.
- C Federico Maranges
- DT Uso Seumalo
- S Rodney Thomas II
- WR Ricky White III
- RB Jacardia Wright
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- RB Josh Williams
- WR Dean Patterson IV
- WR Eric Rivers
- WR Garrett Greene
- TE Devin Culp
- OL Ben Scott
- OL Henry Lutovsky
- OL Paul Rubelt
- DL Jayson Jones
- OLB Yasir Holmes
- LB Javin Wright
- CB Roman Parodie
- S J.J. Roberts
- S Rashad Wisdom
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu
- CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (per ESPN)
Tennessee Titans
- QB Hendon Hooker
- RB Kalel Mullings
- RB Michael Carter
- WR Tyren Montgomery
- WR Hank Beatty
- WR K.J. Osborn
- TE Joel Wilson
- OT Rasheed Miller
- G Drew Moss
- DT Laki Tasi
- DT Timmy Horne
- DE Jalyn Holmes
- LB Mani Powell
- DB Jalen McMurray
- DB Derrick Canteen
- DB Mario Goodrich
Washington Commanders
- WR Jaden Bradley
- DT Byron Cowart
- CB Fred Davis II
- QB Sam Hartman
- RB Robert Henry Jr.
- OLB D.J. Johnson
- LB Ale Kaho
- DT Jeffrey M'Ba
- RB Craig Reynolds
- CB Darius Rush
- OL Trent Scott
- OT Esa Pole
- TE Joshua Simon
- TE Jack Westover
- CB Isaac Yiadom
