Bears Practice Squad Tracker: Young talent returns to the team after cut down day

The Chicago Bears have built out the initial 53-man roster. On Wednesday, the team can begin to build a new 17-man practice squad to complement the group.

The NFL has decided that the practice squad now includes 16 spots, plus an exemption for the International Pathway Program , if a team wishes to use that spot.

Here are the players the Bears have signed to the practice squad following roster cuts.

Bears Practice Squad Signings (15)

• QB Austin Reed
• LS Scott Daly*
• DL Sam Roberts*
• WR Samori Toure
• LB Micah Baskerville
• OL Theo Benedet
• TE Stephen Carlson
• DL Byron Cowart
• OL Jake Curhan
• WR Collin Johnson
• DB Quindell Johnson
• LB Carl Jones
• DL Jamree Kromah
• DL Dashaun Mallory
• DB Tarvarius Moore
• CB Reddy Steward
• DB Ro Torrence
  

*Expected to be elevated to the Week 1 roster.

Practice Squad Rules

Teams can have 16 practice squad players, plus a 17th one from the IPP as aforementioned. Ten players have to have at most one accrued NFL season, while there is no experience limit for the other six.

Practice squad players make $12,500 per week or $225,000 for 18 weeks. Veteran players with over two years of experience will make a minimum of $16,800 per week or $302,400 for 18 weeks.

Elevation Process

Over the last few years, the league adjusted the rules to create more roster flexibility. Teams can elevate up to two players from the practice squad for game day per week. Each player can be elevated three times with the same team throughout the regular season. When the player is elevated, his weekly salary gets a bump to the active minimum payment, the exact amount depends on the player's experience in the NFL.

For the playoffs, there's no limit of elevations per player, even though each team can still only elevate two players for each game.

Related: Meet the Chicago Bears initial 53-man roster following roster cuts