taxi squad

American  

noun

Football.

1. (formerly) a group of players under contract to and practicing with a professional team who are not on the team's roster as playing members and therefore are ineligible to play in official games.

2. the four extra players on a professional football team's roster who are not allowed to suit up for an official game but who are ready to join the team at any time to replace injured or unsuccessful players.

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Other Word Forms

• taxi-squad adjective
• taxi-squadder noun

Etymology

Origin of taxi squad

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

Example Sentences

Roberts said the duo were on the taxi squad — as insurance for Hyeseong Kim and Tommy Edman — and would likely be headed back to triple-A later in the day.

From Los Angeles Times

Bobby Miller, who hasn’t pitched for the Dodgers since July 9, will start in Glasnow’s place after being brought to St. Louis and placed on the taxi squad Friday.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s part of the taxi squad — a precautionary move in case Polanco does need an IL stint.

From Seattle Times

“You hear the things about OCD, like, I don’t know, have a clean apartment or care what ways the labels are looking — I didn’t know that OCD had other forms,” said Ingram, who was on the taxi squad for Nashville at the time and is now with the franchise in Utah.

From Seattle Times

They flew right-hander Casey Lawrence into Denver and have him listed on the taxi squad.

From Seattle Times