NFLPA vetoes new emergency QB rule

A change that was approved this offseason by NFL owners to loosen rules for having an emergency third quarterback will not go into effect. The NFL players association has vetoed the change, which means it will not occur, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

League owners approved a change that would allow teams to elevate a quarterback from the practice squad unlimited times to serve as the team’s emergency third quarterback.

It did not change the maximum of two players a team can elevate from the practice squad each week, but other players can be elevated a maximum of three times before they must clear wavers before going back to the practice squad.

So the emergency quarterback rule reverts back to the rules from last season, which are that a team can have an inactive quarterback designated as an emergency player who could enter a game only if the two active quarterbacks were injured. However, teams can only use such a designation on a bona fide quarterback that was already on the 53-man roster and not elevated that week from the practice squad.

Why would the NFLPA veto such a move?

It likely is about player security and mobility. Unlimited elevations means players have less mobility. After three elevations, they must be subject to waivers, making it possible for other teams to sign them.

The Cardinals never had three quarterbacks on the active roster last season and, with the release of Desmond Ridder ahead of the cutdown deadline, it appears they will not use this rule in 2024.

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