For several players and teams, paid leave remains possible

As all NFL franchises scramble to reduce their rosters to the maximum of 53 players as of 6:00 p.m. ET today, the possibility of paid leave lingers for several players and teams.

The Seahawks officially signed cornerback Terrion Arnold on Saturday, but he has yet to be officially placed on the Commissioner Exempt list. If that doesn’t happen before today’s deadline, they’ll have to devote to him a spot on the 53-man roster that could have been filled by another player.

Several other players are facing off-field issues that could result in paid leave, at some point. They include Rams receiver Puka Nacua, Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson, Packers running back Josh Jacobs, and Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper.

If they’re not placed on paid leave before 6:00 p.m. ET, they’ll occupy one of the 53-man roster spots. They’ll only move off the roster if/when the league exercises its prerogative to put them on the Commissioner Exempt list.

Under the Personal Conduct Policy, paid leave doesn’t happen until a player is formally charged with a felony or a crime of violence or the NFL concludes through its own investigation that a violation may have occurred or the NFL believes, as to an alleged crime of violence, that further investigation is warranted.

Will any players other than Arnold (who has been formally charged with eight felonies arising from an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping) be placed on paid leave? For now, it’s not known by the players or by the teams.