The COVID-19 pandemic will change how teams manage their rosters this season. It already prompted the NFL to create a separate list for players who contract the virus. The league is now considering a major change to its injured reserve setup.
The competition committee has endorsed a plan to allow an unlimited number of players to return from IR this season, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The committee is also recommending teams be permitted to move players from IR back to the active roster after three weeks instead of the usual eight. These items have surfaced during the NFL’s talks with the NFLPA ahead of training camps, Pelissero adds.
Considering the limitations teams traditionally have for their IR lists, these changes being implemented would represent a significant development for roster management. Last season, teams were only allowed to return two players from IR. The new CBA increased that to three, with the standard eight-week return period remaining in place.
As recently as 2011, an IR designation meant a player was out for the season. In 2012, the NFL permitted teams to return one player off IR — as long as the player was classified as “designated to return.” In 2016, the league scrapped the DTR part of the process but still limited teams to one IR-return player per season. A year later, two players were permitted to return to active rosters.
Allowing teams to return unlimited players from injured reserve would increase teams’ roster flexibility. It would enable them to stash certain contributors on IR for three weeks instead of potentially losing them for the season because of injuries that are not necessarily season-ending setbacks. Teams’ IR-return plans frequently change because of various in-season ailments. These new policies being introduced this season in a special circumstance would allow for more talented players to remain on rosters.
This marks another change that will help teams during the most uncertain period in modern NFL history. Teams are already set to have six additional practice squad players — up from 10 in 2019 to 16 this season — and could have the opportunity to promote them to the active roster on game days, depending on the coronavirus’ impact.
BRING THE SONICS BACK!!