2011 Steelers Practice Squad Eligible Players

Every year heading into the final cut-down week fans are curious as to what players are eligible to be placed on the Steelers practice squad. In the new CBA the rule has not changed as far as the player eligibility goes. As always, every draft pick and undrafted free agent are eligible as these players are rookies. The biggest question always revolves around players that are not rookies that may have served time on a practice squad or have even made a 53 man roster for a short period of time. Below is the rule on practice squad eligibility and a list of the players that are currently on the bottom end of the Steelers roster that should indeed be practice squad eligible. The biggest names that have been asked about this preseason are Tyler Grisham, Steve McLendon and Chris Scott. Based on the rules below, all three should be eligible for the Steelers practice squad should they indeed be released this weekend and clear waivers.

What makes a player eligible for an NFL practice squad?

(a) The practice squad shall consist of the following players, provided that they have not served more than two previous seasons on a Practice Squad: (i) players who do not have an Accrued Season of NFL experience; and (ii) free agent players who were on the Active List for fewer than nine regular season games during their only Accrued Season(s). An otherwise eligible player may be a practice squad player for a third season only if the Club by which he is employed that season has at least 53 players on its Active/Inactive List
during the entire period of his employment.

(b) A player shall be deemed to have served on a Practice Squad in a season if he has passed the club’s physical and been a member of the club’s Practice Squad for at least three regular season or postseason games during his first two Practice Squad seasons, and for at least one regular season or postseason game during his third Practice Squad season. (A bye week counts as a game provided that the player is not terminated until after the regular season or postseason weekend in question.)

2011 Steelers Practice Squad Eligible Players