The NFL’s new expanded roster rules could help the Jets with Joe Flacco in 2020.
Flacco underwent neck surgery in April, but he probably won’t be ready to play until September. If the NFL season kicks off on time in mid-September and Flacco isn’t cleared by the team, the Jets are going to have to shuffle around their quarterback room.
That would mean David Fales or James Morgan serving as Darnold’s backup, with the other being the third-string. In a scenario in which Flacco isn’t ready for the start of the season, the Jets could opt to go with four quarterbacks at the beginning of the year.
Luckily for the Jets, the NFL expanded rosters under the new CBA. On gameday, the roster size now maxes out at 48 players after previously being set at 46 players. However, one of those extra players has to be an offensive lineman.
As for the practice squads, those rosters increased from 10 players to 12 players in 2020. Teams can also bring two players from their practice onto the active roster per week. So instead of 53 players on an active roster, teams can have 55 players during a game week.
The shape of the Jets quarterback room is going to depend on Flacco’s health. If he’s ready to play by September, the Jets could let Fales go without any harm. More likely than not, Morgan will be on the Jets practice squad most of the season unless disaster strikes.
Fortunately for the Jets, they’ll have the roster flexibility to manage in case Flacco is not ready to go in time for the start of the 2020 season.