NFL owners approved a rule change Monday that allows teams to play an emergency quarterback from the inactive list if the first two are injured during a game, a decision that stems from San Francisco’s depth-chart challenge in the NFC championship game.
The bylaw was initially proposed by the Detroit Lions. The third quarterback designation will not count against the limit of active players – either 47 or 48 – that is determined 90 minutes before kickoff.
The emergency activation can only occur after injury or disqualification, not for a performance-related decision or other conduct. If either of the first two quarterbacks are cleared by the team’s medical staff to return to play, the third must be removed from the game and can only return as a quarterback if an injury scenario arises again.
If a team puts three quarterbacks on the active list for a game, it can’t use the emergency option. Game-day practice squad elevations are not eligible, either.
“Each team may designate a third emergency quarterback from its 53-player active/inactive roster who will be eligible to be activated during the game if the first two quarterbacks are unable to participate in the game due to injury,” the league said in a statement.
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Conditions for the new rule to apply
In order for teams to activate their number three passer, two conditions must be met:
He must be on the 53-man roster the team gave for the season, i.e., he cannot be called up from the practice squad.
The third quarterback may play only if the other two are injured or ejected. If one of the injured passers is cleared to return to the game, the number three passer must start.
