NFL’s Emergency Third Quarterback Rule 2023 Explained

NFL owners implemented a bylaw in the offseason that is expected to have a significant effect in the upcoming 2023 season. This Third Quarterback rule allows each team to designate an emergency quarterback to play on game days, which will be in addition to their 46-man regular-season roster.

NFL’s Emergency Third Quarterback Rule 2023 Explained

This decision was made in response to an incident that occurred in the NFC Championship game of the 2022 season, in which an injury to a quarterback necessitated the insertion of a Pro Bowl runner at the position in the form of Christian McCaffery, who played a significant role in the 49ers’ 31-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The FAQ defines a bona fide quarterback as a player who is authorized to wear a quarterback’s jersey and who is a “proven quarterback” (i.e., a player who has played the position prior to the current season in either a professional or college setting); or (ii) a player who has only taken regular-season practices at quarterback for a minimum of three consecutive weeks, inclusive of any week in which the player would have been listed as an “Emergency 3rd Quarterback.”

The FAQ also mentions a new rule that allows teams to have an “emergency third quarterback” which allows them to bring up to 49 players onto their gameday rosters.

In order to be eligible for the emergency quarterback rule, a team must have two primary quarterbacks listed as active on the active roster out of a total of 47 or 48 players scheduled to play on the day in question. However, if a team has three primary quarterbacks or more ready to play, the emergency rule cannot be applied.

The emergency quarterback rule is only applicable in in-game situations where primary and backup quarterbacks are unable to play due to injury or disqualification. However, if one of the top two primary quarterbacks recovers and is given the green light to play during the game, then the emergency player must step in.

The inclusion of Hill on the active roster could provide the Saints with additional flexibility under the new rule that permits teams to include an emergency 3rd quarterback in their game-day rosters and not be counted against their active gameday rosters.

Hill’s offensive snaps included 45.2% at quarterback; 18.5% were lined up out wide; 15.6% were lined up in the slot; 13.7% were lined up at tight end; and 7% were in the backfield.

Additionally, Hill completed 117 passes, was targeted twelve times, and caught nine passes, completing thirteen of his twenty-one attempts for two touchdowns. He also rushed 96 times for five hundred and seventy-five yards and seven scores, all of which came from the quarterback position.

The Saints could benefit from this rule in two respects. First, the team’s starting right tackle, Jake Haener, is currently suspended six games for a violation of the NFL’s PED policy. As a result, the Saints’ starting quarterback rotation is now three-time Pro Bowler Derek Carr, Winston and Hill.

 

 

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