The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world of professional sports to become more flexible. Leagues like the NBA and NFL have had to invent new reserve lists and exceptions for necessary roster movement. This postseason, the NFL is reportedly allowing for more flexibility for teams’ active rosters and practice squads.
On Wednesday, NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported that unlimited promotions from the practice squad to the active roster would be allowed for all teams in the postseason. In the past, players were capped at two promotions and had to be technically waived after that second elevation.
This is another rule change that will allow for NFL teams to more easily deal with not only injuries in the postseason, but those who deal with COVID-19 as well. This is just the first reported NFL rule change to come out of Wednesday, as the league is dealing with its worst COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic started.
More than 90 players are on reserve/COVID-19 lists around the league, and NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports that the NFL and NFLPA continue to have discussions about potential changes to the COVID-19 protocols. Mark Maske of The Washington Post reports that the league is considering allowing vaccinated, asymptomatic players who test positive for the coronavirus to return to the team sooner. Albert Breer reports that one idea being discussed is “incentivizing” players to get the COVID-19 booster shot with the promise the league will stop testing players who have received it.
