LA Rams increase roster by signing a dozen familiar faces

It was only a matter of time after the LA Rams played their final football game before the front office began to clear the table, wash the dishes, and set new place settings for the 2022 NFL season feast. In other words, the LA Rams went about their annual housekeeping tasks of signing players who were on the practice squad to reserve/futures contracts.

That bit of activity is the first step to a very long laundry list of tasks that awaits this team. And yet, in many ways, it is a very important step. NFL teams, in the task of finding the best fits for their next season’s active roster, are permitted to work with up to 90 players through Optional Team Activities (OTAs) and training camp.

2022 roster limits

In 2022, the new NFL/NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement will raise the maximum number of players authorized for the practice squad to 14. That may seem a bit anti-climatic, as the league had authorized 16 players to practice squads in each of the past two seasons due to the risks of large numbers of players testing positively on NFL teams simultaneously. That meant that teams were temporarily permitted to increase practice squads from their established levels of 12 to 16.

That increased number of 16 may apply for 2022 as well.

Of course, the LA Rams participate in the International Pathway Program and have been assigned Max Pircher (Italy) as a result. The rules of the IPP allow an exemption to the 90 player limit (90+1) until teams establish their active roster. At that time, the team can waive the player and, if he clears waivers, can sign him to the practice squad as an exemption (for now, that would mean 14+1).

Okay, enough about rules and regulations. What about the Rams roster?