This year was the NFC West’s turn to participate in the International Player Pathway program, which allows teams to carry an additional international player on their practice squads. This year’s players include (via NFL.com):
- Cardinals: TE Bernhard Seikovits, Austria
- 49ers: OL Alfredo Gutierrez, Mexico
- Rams: OL Max Pircher, Italy
- Seahawks: LB Aaron Donkor, Germany
Per the league’s website, the “program aims to provide elite international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.”
These players will sit on their respective team’s roster until the end of training camp, at which time the teams will be granted “an international player practice squad exemption.” Assuming these players land on the practice squad, they’ll be ineligible to be activated during the 2021 campaign.
Each of the four players from the 2020 program will head into the preseason with the same teams: OT Isaac Alarcon (Cowboys), DE David Bada (Washington), DE Matt Leo (Eagles) and RB Sandro Platzgummer (Giants).