During the season, teams can carry up to eight players on the practice squad. These players are not part of the 53 man roster instead being used during the week in practices.
They're treated similarly to free agents in that teams can sign players off of other teams' practice squads as long as they activate them to the 53 man roster. As Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com reminds us, the Chiefs plucked S Reshard Langford from the Eagles' practice squad last week while the 49ers snagged T Chris Patrick off the Chiefs practice squad. That's why they're similar to free agents because anyone can sign them.
However, after the season is over, teams must decide what to do with these practice squad players. The Chiefs had six players on the practice squad to end the season and today signed five of them to reserve/future contracts.
The five players are:
- CB Jackie Bates
- DE Bobby Greenwood
- RB Kestahn Moore
- OL Jermail Porter
- WR Chandler Williams
The sixth practice squad player, WR Logan Payne, was not signed to a reserve/future contract today. They're "future" contracts because the NFL calendar doesn't technically flip over until March 1st.
So, at this point, these five players will be part of the Chiefs offseason.