Predicting the Chicago Bears' 2026 practice squad

The Chicago Bears have formed their initial 53-man roster, cutting a number of players in the process. Unfortunately, that meant a lot of good players were released.

General manager Ryan Poles will soon start assembling his 16-player practice squad, which can include up to six players with more than two accrued seasons, beginning Monday after the waiver process has concluded. The practice squad serves as an extension of the active roster, which will provide depth at certain positions.

There are a number of players that Chicago waived or released during roster cuts who are expected back on the practice squad, and they could also turn to other players who cleared waivers or were released across the league.

Before the Bears start building their practice squad, here are my early predictions:

The Bears can start forming their practice squad starting at 11 a.m. CT on Monday, Aug. 31.

In previous seasons, teams were allowed to carry 10 players. That number was going to expand to 12 for the 2020 season and then expand to 14 in 2022. That changed with COVID-19, where the league increased practice squads to 16 players, which will once again be the limit in 2026. Teams can have a 17th practice squad member as part of the International Pathway Program (IPP). Of those potential 17 practice squad members, 10 must have two or fewer accrued seasons. The other six do not have any limitations and are classified as “veterans.”

Any player can sign with a team’s practice squad, but there are limitations in place. Here are the different categories for practice squad players, according to Sporting News.

• Rookies, or players who have not accrued one season of NFL experience

• Any player who was not active for more nine regular-season games or more during their accrued seasons

• A maximum of four players who earned no more than two accrued NFL seasons

• Six players who have accrued more than two NFL seasons.

• At least one player who is a member of the NFL’s International Pathway Program (IPP)

Rookies, or players who have not accrued one season of NFL experience

Any player who was not active for more nine regular-season games or more during their accrued seasons

A maximum of four players who earned no more than two accrued NFL seasons

Six players who have accrued more than two NFL seasons.

At least one player who is a member of the NFL’s International Pathway Program (IPP)

There are two different salary scales for practice squad players depending on a player’s experience. There’s one for players with two or fewer accrued seasons (which are most practice squad players) and one for everyone with three or more, according to Sporting News.

The first group, which includes rookies and players who have played no more than two accrued seasons, receive a fixed weekly salary of $13,750. The second group, which consists of players who have played three or more accrued seasons, do not have a fixed salary. The minimum weekly salary for a veteran on the practice squad is $18,350, while the maximum is $22,850.

Players on a team’s practice squad are free to sign with another team at any point. Although, a team that signs a player from a practice squad must add the player to its 53-man roster. That means no switching practice squads across the league.

Teams can elevate up to two practice squad players on game day, per Sporting News, expanding their roster to 55 players. Seven players will be designated as inactive. Following the game, players who were elevated to the game day roster revert back to the practice squad. Practice squad players can only be elevated two times per season. If a team wants to play them more, they must sign them to the active roster.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Predicting the Chicago Bears’ 2026 practice squad