A quarterback injury mid-game can shift the tide of an entire NFL season, as demonstrated by the 2022-2023 NFC Championship Game, when injuries sidelined both Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson, leaving the San Francisco 49ers without a healthy quarterback. This situation showed why it’s important to have a backup plan in key games, which led to the creation of the emergency third quarterback rule.
The emergency third quarterback rule allows a team to designate an extra quarterback who can play only if the two active quarterbacks are unable to continue due to injury or disqualification. To qualify, this player must be listed on the team’s 53-man roster and must regularly play as a quarterback. Unlike standard backups, a practice squad player cannot fill this emergency role, maintaining the integrity of active roster rules.
Importantly, this rule requires two active quarterbacks for a team to list an emergency QB. If a team has three quarterbacks suited up for a game, it cannot list an additional emergency player. The designated emergency QB can step in only if injuries prevent both the starter and backup from returning. This approach prevents teams from using the third quarterback as a backup or development option mid-game.
Strict Limits On Emergency Quarterback Usage And NFL Rule Changes
The rule has strict conditions for when the emergency quarterback can play. The emergency QB can enter the game only if both active quarterbacks become injured or coaches rule them out, and they must take every snap. Teams cannot use this player due to other quarterbacks’ poor performance, nor can they rotate them out for trick plays or formations like the wildcat. If anyone other than the third quarterback takes a snap, the team faces an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Earlier this year, the NFL proposed a rule allowing teams to promote a quarterback from the practice squad as an emergency player with unlimited call-ups. However, the NFLPA rejected this rule, voicing concerns that teams might exploit it to “stash” quarterbacks outside of the regular roster limits.
Instead, the league reverted the rule, allowing one-time elevations from the practice squad. These players had to be active during the game rather than listed in an emergency-only role. This decision has made teams more inclined to retain an additional quarterback on their primary roster for extra security as they head into the season.
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