NFL World Reacts To Monday's Quarterback Rule Announcement
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 29: Brock Purdy #13 and Josh Johnson #17 of the San Francisco 49ers in the locker room before the NFC Championship playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the 49ers 31-7. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
The NFL approved a rule in response to an unfortunate playoff situation.
Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the league passed a bylaw allowing teams to roster an emergency third quarterback without using an active roster spot. The Detroit Lions proposed the rule, which the San Francisco 49ers would have appreciated having when Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson got hurt during the NFC Championship Game.
San Francisco finished a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles without a healthy quarterback, instead having running back Christian McCaffrey play in the Wildcat formation while an injured Purdy returned without the ability to throw.
As a result, most observers approve of the logical rule.
"Solid rule change," MassLive's Mark Daniels wrote.
"A rule that went away just long enough for us to see CMC play QB in a conference championship game," Mike Golic Jr. noted.
"Just a guess: The #49ers are among the teams that voted 'yes,'" Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle surmised.
"A rule that makes sense," a fan declared.
Under this rule, teams can designate a third quarterback from their 53-man roster to dress and play only if the two active quarterbacks get hurt. Per ESPN's Field Yates, they can't call up someone from the practice squad.
The league allowed a third quarterback from 1991 to 2010, and it took a high-profile emergency for everyone to realize those protocols remain a good idea.
Although an emergency quarterback probably wouldn't have saved San Francisco, at least NFL teams are now far less likely to finish a game without a healthy passer.
