The Eagles announced the four practice squad players who will be protected going into the Week 5 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• DB Grayland Arnold – Arnold has played 27 snaps, all on special teams, in the past two games as a call-up from the practice squad.
• TE Jason Croom – Signed to the practice squad last Tuesday, the 26-year-old Croom played 15 games (three starts) for the Buffalo Bills in 2018 and had 22 catches for 259 yards and a touchdown.
• DT T.Y. McGill – McGill recorded a half-sack and two QB pressures and hits in the season opener against Washington.
• DB Elijah Riley – The 5-11, 214-pound Riley was a team captain for the Army Black Knights in 2019. In his four-year career, Riley accumulated 201 tackles, seven interceptions, and 6.5 sacks. He joined the Eagles as a rookie free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft.
It should be noted that all four players who were protected last week were either signed to the active roster or called up for the game.
Typically, a player on the practice squad can be signed to another team's active roster. Now, teams have until 4 PM Tuesday during game week to designate the four they wish to keep away from other teams. This is not applicable during the bye week, though.
Teams now have the option to have as many as 55 players on the active roster, as they can elevate two players from the practice squad. They have to do so on the day before the game (or day of the game for Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football) and no later than 4 PM. The players are automatically sent back to the practice squad without having to be placed on waivers first.
However, a team can only do that with a player twice. After two times, a player must sign an active roster contract and be counted against the 53. Arnold has been elevated by the Eagles in each of the past two weeks.
