How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
Any NFL player will tell you that wins don't come on Sundays, they come during the week during practice. That's why practice squads are an under-appreciated part of the NFL game.
After NFL squads trim their rosters to 53 players, the next step is for those teams to form their practice squads for the upcoming season. Those practice squads are comprised of veterans looking for a second (or third or fourth) chance, while some younger players — even those who were drafted in 2023 — look to make their names known and impact felt on the backfields.
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So, as the NFL rosters are official set heading into the 2023 season, here's how the practice squads for all 32 teams stack up.
NFL practice squad signings: 2023 rosters for all 32 NFL teams
NFL practice squads are formed following the conclusion of roster cut deadline on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Veterans and younger players alike find their way to the practice squad, with the size of the group set at 16 players for 2023.
Practice squad rosters (as announced by teams and various reports) are below.
49ers practice squad
- DL Alex Barrett
- FB Jack Colletto
- WR Chris Conley
- DL Marlon Davidson
- TE Troy Fumagalli
- OL Alfredo Gutierrez*
- RB Brian Hill
- CB Qwuantrezz Knight
- OL Corey Luciano
- WR Tay Martin
- DL T.Y. McGill
- LB Curtis Robinson
- WR Willie Snead IV
- CB Tre Swilling
- OL Leroy Watson IV
- WR Isaiah Winstead
Bears practice squad
- LB Micah Baskerville
- DL Travis Bell
- FB Robert Burns
- TE Stephen Carlson
- OL Aviante Collins
- LB DeMarquis Gates
- DL Jalen Harris
- OL Roy Mbaeteka
- DB Greg Stroman Jr.
- WR Nsimba Webster
- DB Kendall Williamson
- OL Bill Murray
Bengals practice squad
- DT Domenique Davis
- CB Allan George
- C Nate Gilliam
- QB Will Grier
- DE Jeff Gunter
- LB Shaka Heyward
- TE Tanner Hudson
- WR Shedrick Jackson
- CB Sidney Jones IV
- G Jaxson Kirkland
- WR Kwamie Lassiter II
- WR Stanley Morgan
- LB Tyler Murray
- S Michael J. Thomas
Bills practice squad
- DT Eli Ankou
- WR Marcell Ateman
- CB Kyron Brown
- DE Kameron Cline
- DT DJ Dale
- OL Richard Gouraige
- DB Ja'Marcus Ingram
- WR Andy Isabella
- OL Kevin Jarvis
- RB Ty Johnson
- OL Greg Mancz
- LB Christian Kirksey
- WR Tyrell Shavers
- WR Bryan Thompson
- DT Kendal Vickers
- TE Joel Wilson
Broncos practice squad
- RB Tyler Badie
- WR Michael Bandy
- QB Ben DiNucci
- WR Phillip Dorsett
- CB Art Green
- OLB Marcus Haynes
- WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey
- DL Jordan Jackson
- OT Demontrey Jacobs
- S Devon Key
- TE Lucas Krull
- NT Tyler Lancaster
- DT P.J. Mustipher
- DT Haggai Ndubuisi
- OL Will Sherman
- WR David Sills
- RB Dwayne Washington
Browns practice squad
- CB Lorenzo Burns
- WR Jaelon Darden
- G Michael Dunn
- RB Hassan Hall
- K Lucas Havrisik
- DT Trysten Hill
- DE Sam Kamara
- OL Alex Leatherwood
- S Tanner McCalister
- TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
- DE Lonnie Phelps
- LB Charlie Thomas III
- DE Isaiah Thomas
- QB P.J. Walker
- WR Austin Watkins
Buccaneers practice squad
- LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle
- DL C.J. Brewer
- OT Silas Dzansi
- T Luke Haggard
- CB Keenan Isaac
- WR Cephus Johnson
- S Richard LeCounte
- WR Ryan Miller
- WR David Moore
- OT Raiqwon O'Neal
- OLB Jose Ramirez
- LB J.J. Russell
- TE Tanner Taula
- QB John Wolford
Cardinals practice squad
- WR Andre Baccellia
- QB Jeff Driskel
- S K'Von Wallace
Chargers practice squad
- OLB Brevin Allen
- T Zack Bailey
- WR Terrell Bynum
- DL Jerrod Clark
- DL Christian Covington
- WR Keelan Doss
- QB Max Duggan
- WR Alex Erickson
- OLB Andrew Farmer
- CB Matt Hankins
- TE Hunter Kampmoyer
- DL CJ Okoye
- G/T Austen Pleasants
Chiefs practice squad
- CB Ekow Boye-Doe
- S Deon Bush
- TE Matt Bushman
- LB Cole Christiansen
- DT Matt Dickerson
- OT Chukwuebuka Godrick
- DE Truman Jones
- OT Darian Kinnard
- QB Chris Oladokun
- RB La'Mical Perine
- WR Cornell Powell
- RB Deneric Prince
- TE Gerrit Prince
- C Austin Reiter
- DT Danny Shelton
- CB Keith Taylor
- CB Reese Taylor
- WR Montrell Washington
- DT Chris Williams
Colts practice squad
- LB Liam Anderson
- S Henry Black
- S Marcel Dabo
- RB Jake Funk
- S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
- RB Jason Huntley
- WR D.J. Montgomery
- DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
- LB Donavan Mutin
- WR Amari Rodgers
- DT Caleb Sampson
- T Dan Skipper
- WR Michael Strachan
- CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart
- CB Kevin Toliver II
- WR Juwann Winfree
Commanders practice squad
- LB Jabril Cox
- T Alex Akingbulu
- WR Kazmeir Allen
- TE/FB Alex Armah
- DE William Bradley-King
- G Mason Brooks
- S Terrell Burgess
- CB Tariq Castro-Fields
- LB Jabril Cox
- QB Jake Fromm
- RB Derrick Gore
- LB De'Jon Harris
- T Jaryd Jones-Smith
- C Nolan Laufenberg
- DT Benning Potoa'e
- WR Brycen Tremayne
- CB Nick Whiteside II
Cowboys practice squad
- OT Earl Bostick
- CB Josh Butler
- WR Jalen Cropper
- RB Malik Davis
- TE Princeton Fant
- CB C.J. Goodwin
- C Brock Hoffman
- LB Malik Jefferson
- DE Durrell Johnson
- WR Tyron Johnson
- TE Sean McKeon
- DB Sheldrick Redwine
- OT Alex Taylor-Prioleau
- DE Tyrus Wheat
Dolphins practice squad
- CB Ethan Bonner
- DE Randy Charlton
- TE Tanner Conner
- LB Cameron Goode
- DT Da'Shawn Hand
- LB Alexander Johnson
- WR Braylon Sanders
- OL Alama Uluave
Eagles practice squad
- WR Devon Allen
- WR Britain Covey
- CB Mekhi Garner
- OL Julian Good-Jones
- DE Tarron Jackson
- LB Kyron Johnson
- S Tristin McCollum
- WR Joseph Ngata
- TE Brady Russell
- P Arryn Siposs
- OL Brett Toth
- LB Ben VanSumeren
- WR Greg Ward
Falcons practice squad
- DB Micah Abernathy
- CB Natrone Brooks
- TE Tucker Fisk
- TE Parker Hesse
- DL Timmy Horne
- RB Godwin Igwebuike
- DL LaCale London
- WR Xavier Malone
- WR Mathew Sexton
- OL Justin Shaffer
- LB Andre Smith
- DL Kemoko Turay
- OL Tyler Vrabel
- OL Barry Wesley
Giants practice squad
- DT Ryder Anderson
- WR Cole Beasley
- LB Darrian Beavers
- DB Alex Cook
- QB Tommy DeVito
- LB Tomon Fox
- DB Gemon Green
- TE Tyree Jackson
- LB Dyontae Johnson
- TE Ryan Jones
- DB Amani Oruwariye
- OT Tyre Phillips
- LB Oshane Ximines
Jaguars practice squad
- OL Chandler Brewer
- CB Tevaughn Campbell
- OLB D.J. Coleman
- RB Snoop Conner
- OL Coy Cronk
- DL De'Shaan Dixon
- CB Erick Hallett II
- WR Jacob Harris
- LB Dequan Jackson
- TE Derek Parish
- TE Josh Pederson
- QB Nathan Rourke
- OL Darryl Williams
- WR Seth Williams
Jets practice squad
- QB Tim Boyle
- S Trey Dean
- LB Sam Eguavoen
- CB Craig James
- LB Caleb Johnson
- S Tyreque Jones
- TE Zack Kuntz
- OL Adam Pankey
- CB Nehemiah Shelton
- DL Tanzel Smart
- DL Marquiss Spencer
- RB Xazavian Valladay
- TE Zack Kuntz
Lions practice squad
- WR Maurice Alexander
- G Kayode Awosika
- K Michael Badgley
- WR Dylan Drummond
- OT Connor Galvin
- CB Chase Lucas
- LB Trevor Nowaske
- S Brandon Joseph
- OT Max Pircher
- DL Chris Smith
Packers practice squad
- TE Austin Allen
- CB Corey Ballentine
- LB Keshawn Banks
- WR Grant DuBose
- C James Empey
- S Innis Gaines
- QB Alex McGough
- WR Bo Melton
- LB Aaron Mosby
- LB Kenneth Odumegwu
- FB Henry Pearson
- S Benny Sapp III
- DL Chris Slayton
- RB Patrick Taylor
- T Kadeem Telfort
- CB Kiondre Thomas
Panthers practice squad
- OL Deonte Brown
- RB Spencer Brown
- OL J.D. DiRenzo
- LB Eku Leota
- OL Justin McCray
- CB Mark Milton
- S Eric Rowe
- DL Taylor Stallworth
- LB Jordan Thomas
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
- DL Raequan Williams
Patriots practice squad
- S Joshuah Bledsoe
- TE Pharaoh Brown
- QB Malik Cunningham
- OL James Ferentz
- LB Joe Giles-Harris
- RB Kevin Harris
- RB Ty Montgomery
- LB Calvin Munson
- LB Ronnie Perkins
- WR Thyrick Pitts
- OL Kody Russey
- TE Matt Sokol
- OL Andrew Stueber
- P Corliss Waitman
- QB Bailey Zappe
Raiders practice squad
- DE David Agoha
- DT Matthew Butler
- G McClendon Curtis
- TE Cole Fotheringham
- S Jaydon Grant
- CB Tyler Hall
- LB Kana'i Mauga
- RB Sincere McCormick
- G Netane Muti
- DE Isaac Rochell
- WR Devin Ross
- TE John Samuel Shenker
- CB Sam Webb
- WR Antoine Wesley
Rams practice squad
- OL A.J. Arcuri
- OL Logan Bruss
- DT Marquise Copeland
- RB Royce Freeman
- DB Tanner Ingle
- WR Tyler Johnson
- TE Nikola Kalinic
- OL Mike McAllister
- DB Cameron McCutcheon
- OL Grant Miller
- LB Troy Reeder
- QB Brett Rypien
- WR Xavier Smith
- OLB Keir Thomas II
- WR Austin Trammell
Ravens practice squad
- QB Anthony Brown
- G Tykeem Doss
- RB Melvin Gordon
- CB Jeremy Lucien
- G Tashawn Manning
- TE/FB Ben Mason
- LB Jeremiah Moon
- C Sam Mustipher
- DT Rayshad Nichols
- LB Josh Ross
- WR Sean Ryan
- WR Laquon Treadwell
- TE Travis Vokolek
- CB Daryl Worley
- RB Owen Wright
Saints practice squad
- S Johnathan Abram
- WR Lynn Bowden
- LB Ryan Connelly
- WR Shaquan Davis
- OL Mark Evans II
- DL Jack Heflin
- WR Jontre Kirklin
- G Tommy Kraemer
- DE Niko Lalos
- RB Ellis Merriweather
- RB Jordan Mims
- OT Storm Norton
- LB Anfernee Orji
- DE Kyle Phillips
- LB Jaylon Smith
- LB Ty Summers
Seahawks practice squad
- QB Holton Ahlers
- OLB Levi Bell
- CB Lance Boykin
- CB Artie Burns
- OT Greg Eiland
- NT Matthew Gotel
- C Joey Hunt
- WR Cade Johnson
- RB Bryant Koback
- WR Matt Landers
- TE Tyler Mabry
- LB Patrick O'Connell
- S Ty Okada
- RB SaRodorick Thompson
- WR Easop Winston Jr.
Steelers practice squad
- CB Luq Barcoo
- RB Greg Bell
- CB Anthony Brown
- OT Kellen Diesch
- DT Breiden Fehoko
- WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- DL Jonathan Marshall
- LB David Perales
- S Trenton Thompson
- TE Rodney Williams
Texans practice squad
- DE Derek Rivers
Titans practice squad
- LB Chance Campbell
- DB Shyheim Carter
- DT Michael Dwumfour
- DB Eric Garror
- WR Tre'Shaun Harrison
- WR Mason Kinsey
- DB Armani Marsh
- DE TK McLendon
- TE Thomas Odukoya
- DE Sam Okuayinonu
- OT John Ojukwu
- DT Kyle Peko
- TE Kevin Rader
- DE Derek Rivers
- G Jordan Roos
- OT Andrew Rupcich
- LB Thomas Rush
- K Cade York
Vikings practice squad
- C Alan Ali
- CB C.J. Coldon Jr.
- DL Sheldon Day
- WR Lucky Jackson
- WR Trishton Jackson
- RB Dewayne McBride
- DL T.J. Smith
- WR Thayer Thomas
- OLB Luiji Vilain
- OLB Benton Whitley
- CB Jaylin Williams
- CB Joejuan Williams
How much are NFL practice squad players paid?
There are two separate brackets that the NFL uses to determine practice squad salaries.
They are broken up into players with two or fewer seasons in the NFL, and then those considered NFL veterans.
Players who have accrued two or fewer NFL seasons are paid weekly at a fixed rate. The salary is set at $12,000 in 2023, but is going to increase each year throughout the rest of the current CBA.
| Year | Weekly salary |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $12,000 |
| 2024 | $12,500 |
| 2025 | $13,000 |
| 2026 | $13,750 |
| 2027 | $14,500 |
| 2028 | $15,250 |
| 2029 | $16,000 |
| 2030 | $16,750 |
NFL veterans do not have a set salary rate. Instead, they hold the ability to negotiate the dollar amount on their deal, albeit it is not a large range for the salary.
The minimum weekly salary for a vet on the practice squad in 2023 is $16,100, while the maximum is $20,600.
| Year | Minimum salary | Maximum salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $16,100 | $20,600 |
| 2024 | $16,800 | $21,300 |
| 2025 | $17,500 | $22,000 |
| 2026 | $18,350 | $22,850 |
| 2027 | $19,200 | $23,700 |
| 2028 | $20,900 | $25,400 |
| 2029 | $20,900 | $25,400 |
| 2030 | $21,750 | $26,250 |
Practice squads are paid out on a weekly check, and don't include incentives or bonuses.
How many players are on an NFL practice squad?
As of 2023, a maximum of 16 players comprise an NFL practice squad. This number has increased from 10 players, to 12 players, to now 16. How an NFL team chooses to assemble its practice squad is somewhat constrained to certain limitations, however.
Who is eligible for an NFL practice squad?
Per NFL guidelines, there's a limit on how many veteran players can be on an NFL practice squad. Of 16 players, 10 must not have accrued two seasons of service time in the NFL. The other players are classified as "veterans."
The qualifications for the practice squad are as follows:
- Players who do not have an accrued season of NFL experience (rookies);
- Players who were on the active list for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s);
- Up to four players per team who have earned no more than two accrued seasons (no game limitations);
- Up to six players per team with no limitations as to their number of earned accrued seasons.
During any given week, up to four players can be protected on the practice squad, meaning no other team can sign these players off the practice squad.
Can NFL practice squad players play in games?
Yes, practice squad players have the ability to play in games, if they are added to the game-day roster ahead of time.
Teams can elevate up to two practice squad players the day of a game in order to fill out the 48-man, gameday roster. Following the game, these players revert to the practice squad.
Players cannot be elevated more than three times in one season. After that, the team must sign them to the active roster.
Can practice squad players sign with other teams?
Yes, practice squad players can sign with other teams. However, there is a stipulation to it. If a practice squad player signs with another team, then they must be added to that team's 53-man active roster.
A player may not sign onto the practice squad of another team while an active member of a practice squad.
TSN's Bryan Murphy contributed to this piece.
