Predicting How Broncos Will Exploit New NFL Practice Squad & IR Rules
The modern NFL practice squad is not what many fans have been used to. The new injured reserve rules have also changed.
With the changes to both the practice squad and IR, teams can take a larger perspective when building the roster. Instead of only focusing on a 53-man active roster, Denver Broncos coaches can utilize the 16 players on the practice squad and even those on 'short-term' IR to capitalize on a larger pool of availability.
“I know it’s 53 (players for the active roster) and 16 (players for the practice squad), but I look at it differently," Broncos head coach Sean Payton said this week. "I look at it as that’s the entire roster.”
How will the Broncos exploit these new rules in 2023? Here's how Payton's philosophy is likely to play out now that the Broncos are preparing for Week 1 of the regular season.
First, the Broncos have a nice mix of developmental types and veteran players on the practice squad. Those veteran players are the prime candidates to be 'elevated' to participate on game day.
The NFL's practice squad rules have made it so much easier to use it as a quasi-minor league team. With 16 players and the ability to 'elevate' two players every week on game day with no impact on the 53-man roster, it provides significant flexibility.
For instance, take the wide receiver group. Payton only kept four wideouts on the roster, including an injured Jerry Jeudy. We have no idea when Jeudy will return, but it is likely before Week 4. Otherwise, he would be on IR with the eligibility to return.
That leaves three receivers for Week 1. However, the Broncos have three receivers on the practice squad, and really, none should be considered developmental. Phillip Dorsett, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and David Sills are all experienced, and two can be activated on Sunday.
Each can be activated three times without having to sign them to the active roster. Dorsett is the prime candidate for being called up each of the first three weeks.
After that, Jeudy is likely healed and ready to go, making Dorsett expendable. The coaches will probably rotate both Humphrey and Stills to get the team to Week 6 before any active roster decisions need to be made. By then, KJ Hamler could return.
Most likely, Humphrey will be signed to the roster, giving the team five at the position — if no injuries occur. If the Broncos want to re-sign Hamler, the group would be at full strength with six receivers, and then practice squad moves would be made to reduce the number of wideouts to add needs in other position groups.
It's actually a terrific strategy to ensure that the Broncos' active 53-man roster is filled with the best 53 players. It's also a good strategy to keep players on the team who would have likely been lost during the waiver process, all while having an adequate number of players at each position group ready for game day.
Furthermore, the IR list containing K’Waun Williams, P.J. Locke, and Alex Palczewski can play a factor. Once Williams is healthy, post-Week 4, he will return, making Tremon Smith and Fabian Moreau expendable. This will give the Broncos even more roster flexibility. Instead of seven cornerbacks, the Broncos can carry six to free up space for other position groups, which could be in the aforementioned wide receivers.
Bottom Line
The Broncos have dabbled with this philosophy since 2020, but Payton has jumped into it with both feet. Even though some of the 53-man roster moves looked odd when they were announced, the overall picture clears up any doubt.
The Broncos are fully equipped with game-day-ready players and still have a sizable number of development players who, with the growth of practicing every week, can be used later in the season if necessary.
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