Third quarterback rule pushed back until 2023 after NFLPA denial

Third quarterback rule pushed back until 2023 after NFLPA denial

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  • seifert kevin

    Kevin Seifert, ESPN staff writerAugust 26, 2024, 02:11 pm ET

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      Kevin Seifert is a staff writer covering the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. You can follow him via Twitter @SeifertESPN.

The NFL's emergency third quarterback rule has been pushed back until 2023, the league confirmed Monday, after the NFL Players Association refused to approve recent changes that would have loosened eligibility restrictions.

As could be the case last season, teams can exempt their third quarterback from counting against game-day roster restrictions only if he is part of that week's 53-man roster. Owners approved a change in March that would allow teams to elevate quarterbacks from the practice squad for that purpose. However, the rule could be seen as a way to keep players on practice squads rather than paying 53-man roster rates.

Teams learned of the change ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to cut rosters to 53 players. They will still be able to add a third quarterback from the practice squad for games, but that player will count against game-day roster limits.

The original purpose of this rule was to reduce the chance of a team being left without a healthy quarterback for a game, a situation the San Francisco 49ers faced when they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2022 NFC Championship Game.


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