A new quarterback rule the NFL owners approached this week could motivate teams to stop carrying a third quarterback on the 53-man roster
The NFL just changed a rule that could alter how many quarterbacks teams keep on the 53-man roster during the season.
The Buffalo Bills propose expanding the standard elevation rules to allow clubs to elevate a third player from the practice squad who is a “bona fide quarterback” to be an emergency third quarterback, and the measure passed.
In 2023, teams were allowed to designate an emergency third quarterback on game day after the San Francisco 49ers were left without a healthy quarterback during the 2022 NFC Championship Game. The emergency third quarterback counted as one of the game-day inactives and could play only if the top two quarterbacks were injured.
However, the emergency third quarterback had to be on the 53-player roster, which motivated most teams to keep three quarterbacks on their active roster.
The Bills’ proposed bylaw change would allow most (if not all) teams to carry only two quarterbacks on their active roster, and place the third on the practice squad. since that third would be eligible to play in all 17 games.
DOLPHINS COULD GAIN EXTRA ROSTER SPOT
What that would mean is teams like the Miami Dolphins could exit training camp with only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, and the third (in this instance it would be Skylar Thompson) would be one of the 16 players on the practice squad.
Practice squad players are viewed as developmental prospects, and they make significantly less than players on the active roster.
The minimum salary for NFL practice squad players is $12,000 per week, but that figure i negotiable. If a player has accrued at least two seasons, their minimum salary is $16,100 per week and maximum salary is $20,600 per week.
The minimum salary for the 2024 NFL season is set at $795,000 for players with less than one year of experience, and $915,000 for someone with more than one years experience.
