2 Changes Made Trainers’ Job Even Tougher

Two important rule changes in the NFL this season have made life more difficult for trainers.

For the first time, training camp rosters were limited to 80 players. In the past, there was no limit, and it wasn’t uncommon for a team to bring in more than 100 players and basically use several of them as live tackling dummies. They had no chance to make the team; they were just bodies to fill positions in practice.

With just 80 players, trainers were under pressure to get injured players back on the field as soon as possible.

Another key change regards the injured reserve list. This year, any player put in this category during training camp had to sit out the entire season. Any player put on the list after Sept. 4 is forced to miss a minimum of six games.

There are two options:

1. After four weeks on reserve/injured, a player can practice for two weeks but then must be waived or activated.

2. After six weeks on injured reserve, the player can be activated, waived or begin unlimited practice. If practicing but not activated, the player then must count against the developmental squad of six.

(The developmental squad, consisting of six rookies or first-year free agents who are not on a team’s active list, is new this year as well).

In the past, a player put on injured reserve, whether during training camp or the season, had to miss at least four games. None of these players were forced by the rules to sit out the season.

“It’s a new experience every day, finding out which category a player falls under, the consequences if he practices or doesn’t practice, when he can practice,” Charger trainer Keoki Kamau said. “It’s a learning experience for us all.