Los Angeles Chargers: Tracking team’s 10-man practice squad
By Travis Wakeman
Now that the flurry of roster moves to get down to the league-mandated 53 players is over, teams can start forming their 10-man practice squads.
Practice squads can be comprised of players who were released by other teams so long as they went unclaimed on waivers. Usually, teams opt to bring back their own guys but players released by any team are up for grabs. Of course, the practice squad does have some restrictions so it doesn’t apply to every single player.
Here are the rules of eligibility for a practice squad:
- Teams can have up to 10 players who are eligible to practice with the team throughout the season. They are not eligible to play on regular-season games unless moved to the 53-man roster. Teams can also have one additional player as part of the International Player Development Program, allowing one player from any country aside from the United States.
- Of the 10 players, only four can have two accrued seasons in the league. The other six players must have less than two accrued seasons. No player can be on the practice squad for more than three seasons and a player must be on the practice squad for at least six games for the season to count.
- Players on the practice squad are not protected. All 31 of the other teams can sign a player off any other team’s practice squad whenever they want.
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For the Los Angeles Chargers, there were several players who were close to making the 53-man roster. Here, we will be tracking all of the team’s practice squad signings.
Artavis Scott: Many fans were upset that Scott, who led the team in receptions and receiving yards in the preseason, didn’t make the team. He spent the 2017 season on the practice squad before spending 2018 on injured reserve.
Andre Patton: Many felt Patton did enough to make the team, but it wasn’t to be. Should any of the team’s receivers go down this season, he would be a solid fill-in. He has spent the last two seasons on the practice squad, so this will be his last if his time there lasts more than six games.
Detrez Newsome: Newsome spent most of last season on the 53-man roster but the team liked what it saw in Troymaine Pope this summer.
Kemon Hall: The undrafted rookie out of North Texas gets a chance to continue his career.
Anthony Lanier: Lanier was neck and neck with Chris Peace for a roster spot and Peace just barely edged him out. If the undrafted rookie struggles at all, the team won’t be afraid to turn to Lanier.
Chris Brown: The undrafted rookie out of USC gets to continue his career close to where he played college ball.
Spencer Drango: More offensive line depth. The former fifth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns spent last season on the Chargers’ practice squad as well.
Jason Moore: Undrafted rookie out of Findlay University had a quiet preseason, but may have a chance to be something down the road.
Matt Sokol: The undrafted tight end out of Michigan State gets the practice squad nod over Vince Mayle and Ben Johnson.
Curtis Akins: Akins becomes the final piece of the puzzle after the Chargers waited a bit to make the official announcement. Akins is the only player the Chargers signed that wasn’t one of their own cuts. An undrafted linebacker out of Memphis, Akins was recently waived by the Cincinnati Bengals.