In Orlando, FL during the NFL’s annual league meeting, the owners approved a number of rules and bylaws changes. Among the changes, there were a couple of adjustments made to the rules for injured reserve and designating players for return.
What changed?
Teams are now allowed to use up to two designations to return from injured reserve before final roster cutdowns.
Previously, for a player to be eligible to return from injured reserve at some point during the season after a minimum of four games, he has to have been on the 53-man roster following final cutdowns for at least one day. If placed on injured reserve before that, his season would be over.
This year, they will still be able to use up to eight designations, but they can save a pair of roster spots if there are players with serious but shorter-term injuries.
The other part that changed was that the eight-designation limit only applies to the regular season. Teams that reach the postseason will have unlimited designations, provided the player has been on injured reserve at least four games.
For the Cardinals, this could have been useful last year when offensive lineman Dennis Daley injured his ankle in the final preseason. He had to remain on the active roster for a day after final cutdowns, meaning another player was cut in his place, before he was placed on injured reserve.
In 2022, it would have been useful for quarterback Colt McCoy.
It will be interesting to see if there is any team who decides to use these options in September and if it impacts the Cardinals at all.
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