NFL teams finalize 53-man rosters and begin signing practice squad players
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 31, 2026, 12:37 PM
Last updated Aug 31, 2026
NFL teams are moving to assemble their 16-man practice squads following the league-wide deadline for final roster cuts. The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears reached their 53-man limits on Sunday and have transitioned their focus toward filling out their developmental rosters. Practice squad rules permit clubs to carry 16 players, with a potential 17th spot reserved for participants in the International Pathway Program. Eligibility requirements mandate that at least 10 players have two or fewer accrued NFL seasons, while six spots are open to veterans regardless of service time. Teams may elevate two players from the practice squad to the active roster on game days, provided those players do not exceed the limit of two elevations per season. Clubs can begin finalizing these signings starting Monday morning.
- •The NFL practice squad limit for 2026 is 16 players per team.
- •Teams can sign one additional player via the International Pathway Program.
- •Practice squad players with two or fewer seasons earn a fixed weekly salary of $13,750.
- •Veteran practice squad players earn between $18,350 and $22,850 per week.
- •Players signed from a practice squad must immediately join the new team's active roster.
- 1:07 PMYahoo Sports — Miami Dolphins' 2026 practice squad tracker
- 12:37 PMYahoo Sports — San Francisco 49ers' 2026 practice squad tracker
- 12:34 PMYahoo Sports — Chicago Bears' 2026 practice squad tracker
"The Dolphins moved on from 38 players over the weekend to solidify their 53-man roster. Now, they're working on filling out their practice squad.
"The San Francisco 49ers rounded out their initial 53-man roster on Sunday, and now they can sign up to 16 players to their practice squad.
"We’re tracking the Chicago Bears’ practice squad additions as they’re reported and announced.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 1:07 PMMiami Dolphins' 2026 practice squad tracker
The Dolphins moved on from 38 players over the weekend to solidify their 53-man roster. Now, they're working on filling out their practice squad.
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 12:37 PMSan Francisco 49ers' 2026 practice squad tracker
The San Francisco 49ers rounded out their initial 53-man roster on Sunday, and now they can sign up to 16 players to their practice squad.
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 12:34 PMChicago Bears' 2026 practice squad tracker
We’re tracking the Chicago Bears’ practice squad additions as they’re reported and announced.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
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