Packers could use new NFL rule to their advantage before the 2024 season
The Green Bay Packers sat 31 players for the second preseason game, against the Denver Broncos, last Sunday. Most of them are just starters being preserved, but there were also injured pieces. That list of players who were not available included rookie running backs MarShawn Lloyd and Jarveon Howard, edge defender Keshawn Banks, linebacker Edgerrin […]
The Green Bay Packers sat 31 players for the second preseason game, against the Denver Broncos, last Sunday. Most of them are just starters being preserved, but there were also injured pieces.
That list of players who were not available included rookie running backs MarShawn Lloyd and Jarveon Howard, edge defender Keshawn Banks, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, and undrafted guard Donovan Jennings. First-round rookie Jordan Morgan didn't play either.
It's still unclear how serious their injuries are, but a new NFL rule might help the Packers to keep any of them without spending a useful spot when the initial 53-man roster is put together a week from now.
Rule adjustment
Until last year, a player had to make the initial 53-man roster to be placed on IR and be eligible to return later in the season. What frequently happened: Teams released a veteran player, so he wouldn't go through waivers, and then would bring him back on day 2, moving a player to IR to open the roster spot. The Packers themselves did it last year, releasing long snapper Matthew Orzech.
Now, up to two players can be placed on IR on the day of final cuts (Tuesday) and designated to return four weeks later.
Teams still have the option to carry injured players on the 53-man roster for multiple reasons. First, if a player is placed on IR, he is forced to miss at least four games. Second, if a player makes the initial 53 and is placed on IR on the following day, there are eight designations to return from IR — and another two for playoff teams.
However, the adjustment is important and might be helpful for the Packers.
MarShawn Lloyd, for example, injured his hamstring against the Cleveland Browns last week. Depending on the severity of the issue, this type of injury might make him miss several weeks — maybe Lloyd will be available by week 1, but it's just an example.
The Packers could place Lloyd on IR before finalizing the 53-man roster. He would miss the first four games (Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings), but would be available to play beginning in week 5, when Green Bay plays at the Los Angeles Rams.
And for that to happen, the Packers wouldn't need to keep Lloyd on the initial 53 just to move him to IR one day later.
Even though the rule was adjusted to make things easier for everyone, teams need to designate which players will be eligible to return right now. The Packers cannot simply place these injured players on IR, and then designate any one or two of them to return. That decision must be made on cutdown day, based on the expectations of injury recovery time.
Green Bay Packers’ 53-man roster projection after the second preseason game
There are still several battles to keep jobs on the team
