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  4. title => "4 new roster rule changes that could affect Eagles in 2020 "
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  6. article_body => "<p>As a part of the agreement between the NFL and NFLPA for the upcoming 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a few important roster rule changes that could affect the Eagles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With the pandemic, the league has found ways to create new roster rules aimed to help teams as players might either test positive or come into contact with those who have.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In either case, the league wants to be better prepared.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here are four changes for the 2020 season:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Practice squad expanded to 16 players&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the original collective bargaining agreement, the practice squad was limited to 12 players in 2020 and 2021 and would expand to 14 in 2022. But with the pandemic, the league and the players union agreed to expand the practice squad immediately to 16 players for the upcoming season. And if there are still COVID-19 protocols in effect for 2021, the practice squad will remain at 16 players.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Six of those 16 players on the practice squads have no limit of accrued seasons, meaning the team can keep six veterans on the practice squad.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Think about how the Eagles have used their practice squad in recent seasons. Heck, last year, the Eagles called up multiple players from their practice squad, including Greg Ward Jr. and Boston Scott, who played a ton down the stretch.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Practice squad protected list&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Each Tuesday after 4 p.m. before a Sunday game \u2014 so not during the bye week \u2014 the Eagles will be allowed to protect up to four members of their practice squad. Typically, practice squad players are allowed to sign to any team\u2019s 53-man roster at any time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the past, the only way to protect a player on your practice squad was to sign them to the active roster. The Eagles have done that in recent seasons with QB Nate Sudfeld and OL Sua Opeta.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. IR designated for return&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Beginning on Sept. 6 at 4 p.m., teams are allowed to bring back an unlimited amount of players from Injured Reserve as long as those players have missed three regular season games.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Once a player has been designated to return to practice, teams have 21 days to activate that player.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Previously, the NFL capped the number of players allowed to return from IR and players were forced to miss a minimum of eight games.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. COVID-19 corresponding exemptions&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s an addition roster designation of Reserve\/COVID-19, which we\u2019ve already seen get used. The Eagles placed three players \u2014 Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata and Nathan Gerry \u2014 on the list earlier this training camp.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no definite amount of time players spend on the Reserve\/COVID-19 list but they have to clear protocols before return.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>- If a player gets put on the Reserve\/COVID-19 list before 4 p.m. on Saturday before a Sunday game, the team can replace that player with any free agent or practice squad player.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>- If a player gets put on the list after 4 p.m. on Saturday, they have until up to 90 minutes before kickoff to promote a player from their practice squad.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>That last part is a big change from the previous rule. In other years, teams had to call up practice squad players by 4 p.m. the day before a game. There are added protections because of COVID-19 this year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Subscribe and rate the Eagle Eye podcast:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/roob-knows\/id1376641140?mt=2\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>&nbsp;\/&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/listen#\/ps\/Irihfctcpfeh635rf5ii7m25jzm\">Google Play<\/a>&nbsp;\/&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/nbc-sports-philadelphia\/roob-knows\">Stitcher<\/a>&nbsp;\/&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/7efTly7UOHBSf8PKhqUmYC\">Spotify<\/a>&nbsp;\/&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/eagle-eye-philadelphia-eagles\">Art19<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/eagle-eye-philadelphia-eagles\/episodes\/f846adb2-aa9c-445f-9d06-6fa248f6373c\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br><br><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb788a3d5b83?site_id=Web_NBCS_Philly&amp;creative_id=nbcsphi1356&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Eagles<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/antonio-brown-nfl-analyst-eagles-perfect-spot-signing-2020\">Why 1 analyst thinks Eagles would be perfect for Antonio Brown<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/doug-pederson-discusses-positive-covid-test-coaching-layoff\">Doug Pederson discusses positive COVID test, coaching layoff<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/doug-pederson-confident-nfl-2020-season-covid-19-coronavirus\">Doug Pederson still confident about 2020 season after positive COVID test<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/year-3-jordan-mailata-nfl-jeff-stoutland-rugby\">Is this the year Jordan Mailata goes from project to player?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/coaches-backups-doug-pederson-duce-staley-covid-19-coronavirus\">Eagles have built-in backups for every coach on their roster<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Eagles

Eagles

As a part of the agreement between the NFL and NFLPA for the upcoming 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a few important roster rule changes that could affect the Eagles. 

With the pandemic, the league has found ways to create new roster rules aimed to help teams as players might either test positive or come into contact with those who have. 

In either case, the league wants to be better prepared. 

Here are four changes for the 2020 season: 

1. Practice squad expanded to 16 players 

In the original collective bargaining agreement, the practice squad was limited to 12 players in 2020 and 2021 and would expand to 14 in 2022. But with the pandemic, the league and the players union agreed to expand the practice squad immediately to 16 players for the upcoming season. And if there are still COVID-19 protocols in effect for 2021, the practice squad will remain at 16 players. 

Six of those 16 players on the practice squads have no limit of accrued seasons, meaning the team can keep six veterans on the practice squad. 

Think about how the Eagles have used their practice squad in recent seasons. Heck, last year, the Eagles called up multiple players from their practice squad, including Greg Ward Jr. and Boston Scott, who played a ton down the stretch. 

2. Practice squad protected list 

Each Tuesday after 4 p.m. before a Sunday game — so not during the bye week — the Eagles will be allowed to protect up to four members of their practice squad. Typically, practice squad players are allowed to sign to any team’s 53-man roster at any time. 

 

In the past, the only way to protect a player on your practice squad was to sign them to the active roster. The Eagles have done that in recent seasons with QB Nate Sudfeld and OL Sua Opeta. 

3. IR designated for return 

Beginning on Sept. 6 at 4 p.m., teams are allowed to bring back an unlimited amount of players from Injured Reserve as long as those players have missed three regular season games. 

Once a player has been designated to return to practice, teams have 21 days to activate that player. 

Previously, the NFL capped the number of players allowed to return from IR and players were forced to miss a minimum of eight games. 

4. COVID-19 corresponding exemptions 

There’s an addition roster designation of Reserve/COVID-19, which we’ve already seen get used. The Eagles placed three players — Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata and Nathan Gerry — on the list earlier this training camp. 

There’s no definite amount of time players spend on the Reserve/COVID-19 list but they have to clear protocols before return. 

- If a player gets put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before 4 p.m. on Saturday before a Sunday game, the team can replace that player with any free agent or practice squad player. 

- If a player gets put on the list after 4 p.m. on Saturday, they have until up to 90 minutes before kickoff to promote a player from their practice squad. 

That last part is a big change from the previous rule. In other years, teams had to call up practice squad players by 4 p.m. the day before a game. There are added protections because of COVID-19 this year. 

Subscribe and rate the Eagle Eye podcast: 

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