NFL approves bylaw allowing 3 active quarterbacks on gameday

After the San Francisco 49ers saw both active quarterbacks get injured, the NFL approved a new bylaw that hasn’t been in place since 2010.

The spring meetings are currently happening at TCO Performance Center and they just passed a bylaw that will impact the game.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the NFL approved the ability for teams to dress a third quarterback without taking up one of the 46 gameday roster spots.

This was a rule on the books up until the new CBA was ratified in 2011. Teams would dress three quarterbacks, but the emergency quarterback wasn’t allowed to play until the fourth quarter. If they did, the other quarterbacks weren’t allowed to come into the game.

This move was made mostly due to the San Francisco 49ers having two quarterbacks get injured in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles and had to run a wildcat offense.

This won’t get used much, but it is noteworthy as teams are starting to roster a third quarterback more often and teams will still get to dress 46 players on gameday.