if the 3rd qb is put in the game, the 1st and 2nd can't come in again?

[PackersFTW]

can somebody explain why this is an nfl rule?

[OverAndBack]

Game day roster sizes have fluctuated over the years. Since 1991, NFL teams have been allowed to dress 45 +1, with the 46th guy being the (emergency) third quarterback. The only reason you get the extra guy is if he's an emergency quarterback so you can use your 45 (the old limit) on guys who will actually play.

The reason there are restrictions about that player's use is to keep you from stashing another player and effectively dressing 46. Teams were only dressing two quarterbacks for strategic purposes because you rarely needed three. If you're going to put that player into the game prior to the 4th quarter, the cost of doing so is necessarily pretty stiff - you can't bring back either of the two guys who are supposedly healthy who are in front of him.

It used to be that if the 3rd QB entered the game at any time, the 1st and 2nd were barred from returning to the game. Now you can put the 3rd guy in in the 4th quarter with no loss of the right to use #1 or #2. And the first two guys don't have to be injured for him to go in. It's a coach's decision.

[PackersFTW]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

Game day roster sizes have fluctuated over the years. Since 1991, NFL teams have been allowed to dress 45 +1, with the 46th guy being the (emergency) third quarterback. The only reason you get the extra guy is if he's an emergency quarterback so you can use your 45 (the old limit) on guys who will actually play.

The reason there are restrictions about that player's use is to keep you from stashing another player and effectively dressing 46. Teams were only dressing two quarterbacks for strategic purposes because you rarely needed three. If you're going to put that player into the game prior to the 4th quarter, the cost of doing so is necessarily pretty stiff - you can't bring back either of the two guys who are supposedly healthy who are in front of him.

It used to be that if the 3rd QB entered the game at any time, the 1st and 2nd were barred from returning to the game. Now you can put the 3rd guy in in the 4th quarter with no loss of the right to use #1 or #2. And the first two guys don't have to be injured for him to go in. It's a coach's decision.

actually it's 53. so you're saying that teams actually dress 54, but only the 3rd qb can be the 54th? and he can only be put in in the 4th quarter, otherwise the first 2 qbs are not allowed in?

[OverAndBack]

Actually, no, it ain't 53.

An NFL roster has 53 players on it.

You can dress 45 + 1. See above:

Since 1991, NFL teams have been allowed to dress 45 +1

Four guys get deactivated prior to gameday. Four more guys get deactivated on gameday before kickoff. Then the 3rd QB is added.

That third QB can go into the game any time, but if he goes in prior to the 4th quarter, the other two QBs cannot return.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

Four guys get deactivated prior to gameday. Four more guys get deactivated on gameday before kickoff.

They brought back the taxi squads, sort of? I hadn't realized that.

Then the 3rd QB is added.

That third QB can go into the game any time, but if he goes in prior to the 4th quarter, the other two QBs cannot return.

Since they introduced this system, I've wondered whether clubs couldn't game it by being fuzzy about who counts as a "quarterback". But maybe it's no advantage to them to do this for players at any other position(s).

Robert

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

They brought back the taxi squads, sort of? I hadn't realized that.

Did it ages ago. Probably 1991 when they introduced the 45 + 1. But surely by 1992 or 1993, when I was covering the league.

Since they introduced this system, I've wondered whether clubs couldn't game it by being fuzzy about who counts as a "quarterback". But maybe it's no advantage to them to do this for players at any other position(s).

Probably not. Most teams have a third. I don't know that it's mandatory that you dress a third, but usually there's the young clipboard guy or the injured veteran who draws that duty.