Following the final roster cutdown deadline, NFL teams are aggressively assembling their 16-to-17-man practice squads for the 2026 season.
Building the Practice Squad Under NFL Roster Rules
NFL franchises face strict structural limitations when constructing their practice squads following the initial 53-man roster cuts. Teams are permitted to carry 16 players, with a potential 17th spot reserved for participants in the International Pathway Program (teams can build a 16-man practice squad, with a potential 17th spot).
Flexibility remains a core feature of the system throughout the regular season. Squad members can be elevated to the active matchday roster up to three times per campaign, expanding a team’s available gameday pool before requiring a permanent contract promotion.
Dallas Cowboys Shape Depth and Manage Roster Attrition
The Dallas Cowboys made waves during roster finalization by opting to carry just three running backs on their initial 53-man roster—Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, and fullback Hunter Luepke. By going short at the running back position to preserve six wideouts and six safeties, the organization immediately turned its attention toward the waiver wire and developmental signings to shore up interior depth.
Front office executives protect the depth of their offensive approach by securing familiar developmental pieces. Among the additions, running back Israel Abanikanda joins the practice squad, bringing physical, north-and-south running traits that mirror the team’s featured backfield tandem. Alongside Abanikanda, linebacker Justin Barron returns to the organization after spending time with Dallas in 2025, serving as a coverage option who can maintain scout team structure or step into special teams roles if injuries strike.
Philadelphia Eagles Add External Talent and Retain Waiver Clearances
In Philadelphia, General Manager Howie Roseman worked the wire following the team’s cutdowns. Although the Eagles did not secure any players via waiver claims from their No. 23 claiming position, they successfully steered several of their own waived prospects through the waiver wire to build out their developmental unit.
The Eagles solidified their trenches and backfield by securing notable talent. Running back Dameon Pierce signed to the practice squad after missing much of camp with an injury, providing a significant boost to running back depth alongside the addition of former Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue. Externally, Philadelphia made a notable splash by signing offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie, a former third-round draft selection by the Chicago Bears who competed for a starting role in Chicago.
Weighing Roster Stability Against Long-Term Attrition
The tension between retaining young talent and maintaining immediate game-ready depth defines the opening week of the NFL season. Every decision made during final cuts carries broader implications for how a franchise handles the inevitable physical attrition of an 18-week schedule. As front offices finalize their final practice squad slots, personnel executives confront the reality that developmental depth charts will dictate success long before winter arrives.
The sources do not contain a verified quotation regarding the difficulty of these decisions or the goal of building a championship team.
With waiver claims processed and initial developmental contracts signed, attention now shifts toward the final league approvals and international exemptions. Teams await word on remaining International Pathway Program designations, such as Milton’s pending status in Dallas, as clubs finalize their 17-player limits ahead of Week 1 kickoff preparations.
