Patriots president Jonathan Kraft says NFL may mull larger rosters

ByMike Reiss ESPN logo
Sunday, November 8, 2015

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With many teams around the NFL juggling injuries, the possibility of expanding rosters would be a welcome addition to coaches, which New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft said could be discussed in the future.

"I think something like that makes sense," Kraft said Sunday during his pregame radio interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub. "The discussion of roster expansion and the [injured reserve] rules; the IR rules, I believe we can do on our own [without collective bargaining].

"A couple of years ago, we made that change where you can go on IR/designated to return -- one player is allowed to do that."

Kraft said that any discussion of roster expansion likely would be tied to the collective bargaining agreement and the possibility of expanding the regular season.

"It might not be a bad idea, and in general, expanding the roster as we look at our schedule makeup and the practice rules, all of that can come into being," he said. "And I think as we look at that, the report earlier this year that we can go to 18 [regular-season games] and two [preseason games] but expand the roster ... I think those are all things that are probably going to be discussed over the years, and my guess would be coalesced around when the next CBA negotiation happens."