In the history of the NFL, the games played in daylight between two NFL mammoths get most of the attention.
However, beneath the surface lies the team’s practice squad, determining the team’s strength and standings.
In the NFL, a practice squad is a reserve for the teams that will serve as backups during injury and unavailability.
As of the 2024 rule update, the league allows 17 players in the practice squad. Their role isn’t just to stay as backup; they train with the main team to prepare them against their rivals.
With the possibility of losing players to rivals, coaches prefer to keep their performance off the media and records.
While fans enjoy games during the gameday, internal rivalries within the teams prevail. Every NFL team is eager to know and sign the rival prospect from the practice squad.
Besides just strengthening the team, signing a rival practice squad players gives them access to team approach and strategies.
Here are the five stories when fans got the sweet or bitter taste of secret rivalries related to practice squads:
1. Rasul Douglas’ Breakout with the Packers, 2021
Rasul Douglas was on the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals when the Packers decided to poach him off.
After the Cardinals’ signed him off, he became a star cornerback for the Green Bay Packers and played till 2023.
In the debut game for the Packers on October 17, Rasul recorded five solo tackles in a victory over the Bears.
Since 2023, Rasul Douglas returned to the Bills’ playing squad after remaining just a practice squad member at the Packers.
NFL rules on stealing practice squad players to active roster changed his career fate.
The Arizona Cardinals didn’t fight for Rasul Douglas, and he stood out against them for the Packers.
In 2021, he made a game-winning interception for Green Bay against the Cardinals in the final seconds.
2. Patriots Tripling Practice Squad Greg Salas’ Salary, 2012
Greg Salas was on the St. Louis Rams before the New England Patriots acquired him.
He was inactive for the first few games of the season, and the Patriots even decided to waive him out.
However, on September 20, he re-signed to the practice squad. During that time, Greg Salas earned $149K for the season as part of a practice squad member.
Two weeks later, New England Patriots raised his weekly salary to $465K annually, tripling his previous pay.
Reports suggested that Greg was vital in the team’s practice squad and strategic planning. The triple salary kept him away from poaching.
The salary hike was just one option to protect him after an undisclosed club attempted him to sign.
However, that wasn’t the first time the Patriots paid a practice squad player equivalent to active roster players.
They employed the tactic in December 2011. Patriots increased the salary of practice squad defensive end Markell Carter to stop him from signing to the active roster.
3. Lions Kwon Alexander Signing From Broncos, 2024
Veteran NFL linebacker Kwon Alexander’s career seemed to catch new highs after the Denver Broncos signed him in 2024.
Broncos signed him off the Lions practice squad following Malcolm Rodriguez’s injury.
NFL poaching rules allow a team to sign a practice squad member to the active roster, not the practice squad.
Reports suggest that the Lions wanted Kwon on the practice squad rather than the team.
Since the NFL doesn’t allow direct signing, the Detroit Lions performed the visible stunt. They signed him to the active roster and relegated him to the practice squad on December 26.
4. Undrafted Free Agent Jonah Williams On-Off Practice Squad Signings
Like Kwon’s career track, Jonah Williams has walked the path of signing and relegating to the practice squad.
Rams signed him as an undrafted free agent after getting undrafted on the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the Rams waived him a couple of months later, in September 2020.
Just a day later, they signed Jonah back, but just on the practice squad. He played eight games with the main team till November 2, 2021.
After failing the physical trials, he moved to the Vikings but didn’t join the team.
Jonah joined the LA Rams as a part of a 16-man training squad. Later, the Vikings again signed him and put him on the practice squad.
His continuous joining and leaving situations explain that the Rams or Vikings wanted playbook knowledge.
5. Cody Schrader’s Rams Move From The Rivals 49ers, 2024
The San Francisco 49ers waived Cody Schrader during the roster cuts in 2024. Their rivals LA Rams claimed the waiver and put him on the active roster.
The rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams is among the most intense battles.
Though Cody’s move to the Rams seems normal, it might have hindered the 49ers strategies. There might have been doubts about playbook info leaks and strategic counters.
Rams have been dominant in almost all the meetings with Los Angeles after signing Cody.
However, there are no detailed reports on whether or not Cody Schrader gave any input against LA’s strategies. If he did, that’s quite a bitter taste for the 49ers.
