LA Rams News: Roster updates for 2020 NFL season

LA Rams News: NFL releases new information regarding NFL team rosters for 2020

In recent LA Rams News: The team’s personnel staff are keeping a watchful eye towards the latest NFL information regarding the team’s roster. As of today, there are a number of new updates to consider. First of all, the team’s practice squad had been limited to 10 players in the past and was scheduled to increase to 12 players this year. The newly ratified CBA provided for the practice squad to increase to 14 players in 2022, as well as allow up to two players to be called up to the active roster and returned twice in a season without penalty.   That allows active rosters to swell to 55 men during the season.

With the risk of the coronavirus impacting rosters for multiple weeks at a time, the NFL has increased the roster of the practice squad by an additional four players this year. That will allow the team to off-set the anticipated average loss of players to a positive COVID-19 test. Keep in mind that the roster was so decimated by injuries last year, that the Rams were tops in making mid-season deals. Hopefully, these changes by the NFL will add continuity for teams heavily impacted by player loss this season.

Added roster protection

While players on the practice squad are “up for grabs” to other NFL teams, the NFL has added a protected status of up to four players.  As described, these four players who are designated to the team’s practice squad will not be able to sign with other teams this season. Of course, all focus of NFL updates quickly becomes: how will that affect the LA Rams?

In a nutshell, it’s great news all the way around. This will allow the Rams to carry an extra quarterback on the practice squad, and cover them with the protection of not-signing with another team.  With the team looking for added depth at offensive line, quarterback, defensive backs and linebackers, this bump in the practice squad roster is a solid win for the Rams.

The more, the merrier

The LA Rams carried a diverse practice squad roster in 2019. That squad included: LB Dakota Allen
TE Kendall Blanton, OT Chandler Brewer, DT Marquise Copeland, DB Dont’e Deayon, DE Landis Durham, S Jake Gervase, RB John Kelly, G Jeremiah Kolone, and QB John Wolford. Of that group, the Rams no long have LB Allen or DE Landis Durham. A majority of these players returned to the team by signing on with future reserve contracts. If the Rams follow a similar pattern for 2020, the practice squad will likely include two linebackers, four offensive linemen, one quarterback, three defensive backs, one running back, one tight end, two wide receivers, two defensive linemen.

Who might they be? Well, that’s where it gets awfully foggy.  Particularly since the players have not even taken the field yet. And the number of players will flex based upon how many players earn a spot on the active roster.  Since the Rams signed 22 rookies to the team after the 2020 NFL Draft, a larger practice squad is a huge bonus to the team.  With so little time for training camp and practices, the coaches will be focused upon getting veterans up to speed initially, and then will seek opportunities to develop young players where possible.  The Rams