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This question is about football player salaries.
How much do practice squad players make?
Practice squad players in the NFL make at least $11,500 per week or $207,000 for the 18 weeks spent on the practice squad. All 32 teams in the NFL have a practice squad with replacement options in case of injury during the 17-game season.
It is not uncommon to see teams promote and sign practice squad players to their active rosters throughout the season as they work against injuries and illnesses. Each practice squad has a maximum of 16 players, and players with 2 or fewer accrued NFL seasons earn $11,500 per week (minimum).
A player accrues a season when they are on full-time pay status for at least 6 regular season games. Players with 2 or more seasons make a minimum of $15,400 per week or $277,200 for the whole season. For comparison, the minimum salary for a rooke on an active roster is $705,000.
Practice squad players can be paid more than the minimum figures, but their salaries do count towards the team's salary cap, so they will likely not be substantial. If a practice squad player is promoted to the active roster, they will earn the prorated minimum salary for a player with an equal amount of experience.
For example, a rookie called up to the active roster would see their pay increase from $11,500 to over $39,000. A player with 7 years of experience or more would earn over $62,000. If a pratice squad player is signed to the active roster of another team, they would receive a guarantee of 3 game checks.
It is important to note that a team can call a player up 2 times in the regular season without signing them to the regular roster. Teams are also allowed to protect 4 of their practice squad players from being signed by rival teams. There is no limit on how many times a player can be protected throughout the season.
The only way a practice squad player can be signed by another team is if they are signed to the active roster. A team cannot sign another club's practice squad member to their own practice squad. A practice squad player cannot sign with their team's next opponent, unless it is at least 6 days before the game (10 during a bye week).
Each week, NFL teams will have the ability to promote 2 practice squad players without having to create space for them in the active roster. This must be done by 4:00pm on the day before the game. After the game, the practice squad players revert back to the practice squad without any waivers being needed.
A player can be promoted to the active roster via this method 2 times in a season. On the third time, the player must be signed to the active roster.
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