NFL teams scarcely employ game-day roster adaptability with emergency quarterbacks as frequently as might be assumed
NFL Reinstates Emergency Quarterback Rule for 2023 Season
The National Football League (NFL) has reinstated the emergency quarterback rule for the 2023 season, a rule that was in effect from 1991-2010 and was brought back following a unique incident during the pandemic-altered 2020 season.
The rule allows teams to bring up quarterbacks from the practice squad on game day, but they must be part of the active roster. Emergency quarterbacks, technically, aren't active. This rule was prompted by the NFC championship game in the previous season, where both starting and backup quarterbacks for the San Francisco 49ers were injured.
In 2020, the Denver Broncos found themselves in a similar predicament when all four of their quarterbacks were unable to play due to COVID-19 protocols. Practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton started for Denver in a game, a rare occurrence in the history of the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys, like many other teams, have emergency plans for a third quarterback when needed. Quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko has quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Ben DiNucci mirror any throw Dak Prescott made in practice, ensuring they are prepared to step in if necessary.
Interestingly, Brian Schottenheimer was replaced by Kellen Moore as the Cowboys' backup quarterback for his first two games as head coach. This move was likely a precautionary measure to ensure a capable backup was available in case of an emergency.
It's worth noting that the NFL had proposed loosening the rules to make it easier for third QBs to be brought up from the practice squad on game day, but the union rejected the proposal. This means teams must still rely on their active roster for emergency quarterbacks, unless they decide to carry a third quarterback throughout the season.
The Titans, for example, have a system in place where their quarterbacks coach, Bo Hardegree, stated that the QBs behind rookie starter Cam Ward go back through that day's script on reps they didn't get in practice. This ensures all quarterbacks are prepared, should they be called upon.
For teams that don't have an emergency QB3 on game day, it's likely they have similar systems in place to prepare their backup quarterbacks. However, specifics vary from team to team and are often kept confidential.
The reinstatement of the emergency quarterback rule for the 2023 season underscores the importance of having a capable backup quarterback in the NFL, a lesson learned from past incidents involving injuries and COVID-19 protocols.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
