NFLPA Vetoes Revised Emergency 3rd Quarterback Rule Change Ahead of 2024 NFL Season

NFL teams will not have any more flexibility for an emergency quarterback on game days in 2024.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that the NFLPA had vetoed a rule that would have allowed teams to have an emergency third quarterback on game days in 2024. The rule would have given teams the option to elevate a quarterback from their practice squads an unlimited amount of times and the players could have entered the game if all other active quarterbacks were injured.

Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post added context by reporting that a player can only be activated three times during a year to the 48-man game-day actives and that a player who is not added to that list is not eligible in case of multiple injuries.

The original rule was passed before the 2023 season, and it will be in place once again in 2024. However, it was expected to be expanded for the 2024 season and would depend on the previously active quarterbacks being completely unavailable to play.

The rule would have allowed teams to maintain a normal roster while having a security blanket if a disaster struck. Now, a team could be forced to play someone out of position at quarterback if bad luck came its way.

As a result, teams will have to decide whether to include a third quarterback on their game-day rosters.