Key rule change will allow the Lions to keep being themselves during the NFL playoffs

The Detroit Lions season is coming to a close. Just two more regular season games are left and then it's playoff time. The Lions are a team that goes about using their roster in a different way than a lot of teams do. Their practice squad is very important to what they like to do. […]

Mike Payton Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches a play against Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions season is coming to a close. Just two more regular season games are left and then it's playoff time. The Lions are a team that goes about using their roster in a different way than a lot of teams do. Their practice squad is very important to what they like to do. They see them as key pieces. 

The rules during the regular season are that each practice squad player gets three elevations that allow them to be active for games. Unfortunately, when you get late in the season, teams get a little worried about using that third elevation or have players that have already used all three elevations. 

The Lions have Jamal Adams, Isaac Ukwu, and Jamarco Jones sitting at two elevations apiece. 

The good news is that all elevations reset as soon as the playoffs start. This will allow the Lions to use some of the guys that they were scared to use too much during the regular season. 

The other big thing is that we know that the Lions plan to use Kwon Alexander in the playoffs and they were excited to get him back on their practice squad. If they lose to the Vikings on Sunday and make the Super Bowl, it will require four games to do that. The good thing is that the NFL has unlimited practice squad elevations during the playoffs. So Alexander could play all four games. 

There you go. If you were worried about elevations, worry no more.