Subtle six-game injured list rule could affect salary cap management

There are subtle roster rules that can affect the salary cap and one of the largely unknown ones has to do with the six-game injured list.

No player can be put on the six-game after the completion of a team’s 15th game in a season, which normally coincides with the trade deadline.

If any player – big-ticket or otherwise – gets hurt after game 15,  their salary counts against the cap. That means late-season injuries to players such as Bombers strong-side linebacker Maurice Leggett are a double whammy because not only are they hurt, but the money they earn during that time has to be factored into the cap.

Depending on the size of a contract associated with the injured player and potential replacement, it could potentially alter the way a given team manages the cap from that point on.