Dead ball fouls prior to the snap

[FootballRef05]

Rule Book 3-7-3 Pg 42

During the same dead ball interval, no subsitiute sale become a player and then withdraw and no player shall withdraw and re-enter as a substitute unless a penalty is accepted, a BD foul occurs, there is a charged time out or the period ends.

The situation as explained is Ill substitution by rule.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by FootballRef05

Rule Book 3-7-3 Pg 42

During the same dead ball interval, no subsitiute sale become a player and then withdraw and no player shall withdraw and re-enter as a substitute unless a penalty is accepted, a BD foul occurs, there is a charged time out or the period ends.

The situation as explained is Ill substitution by rule.

The key to understanding why this rule does not apply to the OP is in the definition of substitute. The player in the OP did indeed "withdraw". But he did not re-enter as a substitute. He simply re-entered.

This is illegal: B20 hustles on the field and tells B22 to leave. B22 leaves the field, and then a few seconds later enters the field and tells B33 to leave.

The OP is not illegal.