Welcome to the NFL in 2023. It’s an era of new possibilities and opportunities to grow the league and make the game better, faster, and more competitive than a year ago. It’s also the same era of reinstating rules that frankly should have never been touched or changed to begin with.
Why were NFL fans supposed to believe that watching an NFC championship game last year that saw one team lose both its starting quarterbacks and have its four-year, $60 million running back would make the game less boring and one-sided than it already was?
How we even got to this point is even more astonishing, but is actually more straightforward than it seems.
What Happened in the First Place?
This past season, the NFL recently implemented a “new” rule that would allow teams to dress an emergency third-string quarterback and have him warm up with the team before games. Now, why did the league reinstate this rule? It’s a sad but true story.
Unfortunately, during last year’s NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles, the most unusual circumstance of all circumstances occurred. It left fans of the 49ers scratching their heads, wondering how this could have happened.
The 49ers saw both quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson leave the game with injuries, and because Trey Lance was already out for the season, the team was left without another dressed quarterback.
That meant starting running back Christian McCaffery had to come in to play quarterback, which left the team running wildcat plays for the rest of the contest.
Former 49ers QB Josh Johnson (17) – Chris Unger/Getty Images
Why Wasn’t a Third Emergency Quarterback Ready To Step In?
The game already ended in a blowout win for the Philadelphia Eagles, and they would eventually lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Superbowl. The question that was left on everyone’s mind after that game was, “Why did a team that saw both of its quarterbacks fall to injury have to implement their starting running back as a quarterback?”
It’s because there weren’t any rules against it. That was before the NFL wisely decided to rebrand a rule requiring teams to dress an extra third quarterback. It will prevent a team from having to send in a runningback or any other position to play the QB role, should the first two signal-callers have to leave the game.
Keep in mind, it was sad that the 49ers were already losing the game by a bunch, but should the 49ers have had a third quarterback ready? It would have never even come down to putting in McCaffery. Yes, but since there was no rule requiring a third emergency quarterback, it was legal, despite being unethical.
To Blame the NFL or Not to Blame the NFL?
It’s very par for the course for football fans to always blame the NFL for some strange event occurring instead of thinking logically. Having to watch McCaffery come in as the third-string quarterback is something fans shouldn’t have had to see in a men’s professional football league.
The point is both the league and the 49ers should have had some type of plan in place, but to be fair, nobody expected the squad to lose both of its active quarterbacks.
49ers RB Christian McCaffery (23) – Gregory Bull/AP Photo
The New Rules Explained
With the new rules added, the emergency third-string quarterback must be on a current 53-man roster but is not permitted to be an activated practice squad player, the league stated in its revamped rule.
Teams must also have two quarterbacks on its 47/48 player gameday active roster to allow an emergency third-stringer. The third-stringer isn’t allowed to play unless both other active quarterbacks are injured or disqualified.
. Players who play positions other than quarterback are not permitted to serve as an emergency third-string quarterback
. Emergency third-string quarterbacks can participate in warmups
. If either of a team’s top two quarterbacks are cleared to return to a game, they will be allowed to do so, replacing the third-stringer
. Emergency third-string quarterbacks cannot enter a game due to a team benching either of its top two quarterbacks for poor play
. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be assessed if a team violates any of the stipulations laid out by the league.
Well, let’s hope this never happens again, but at least if it does, this time, we know everyone will be prepared.
