For each of the last two COVID-impacted years, the NFL temporarily modified the IR rules to make them very flexible which allowed teams to place players on IR and then activate them with minimal difficulty.
The league has decided to permanently change the rules - although they are not making them quite as flexible as they were the last two seasons.
The league is re-instituting a maximum cap on returns from IR - though they bumped it up to 8 returns. Players can now return from IR twice during the season, however each activation will count towards the 8 max number.
Once a player is placed on IR, he will need to remain there a minimum of 4 weeks before he can be activated.
Below is a quick summary of how the rules changed:
Allowed number of returns from IR:
Before COVID: 2
COVID: Unlimited
New Rule: 8
Minimum number of weeks on IR List before return:
Before COVID: 8
COVID: 3
New Rule: 4
The NFL also made some slight changes to practice squads. Teams will still be able to carry 16 players on the practice squad - the NFL is maintaining this larger practice squad that was adopted during COVID. Additionally, each player can now be elevated to the active roster on game day 3 times during the season (increased from 2 times)
https://www.nfl.com/news/players-now...ter-four-games