MINNEAPOLIS — Once again, a high-profile moment was sufficient impetus to spur change in the NFL rulebook.
Fans who tuned into the NFC championship game in January wondered how the San Francisco 49ers would proceed after quarterback Brock Purdy tore the UCL in his throwing elbow and backup Josh Johnson was ruled out with a concussion.
With an NFL bylaw amendment Monday afternoon at the May owners’ meetings, the next team to face this dilemma will have more quarterback optionality.
NFL teams can now officially designate an inactive, emergency third quarterback who will play if the team’s two active quarterbacks aren’t able to.
The third quarterback will be inactive unless and until the two active quarterbacks are injured or disqualified and unable to participate in the game, per bylaw language.
The quarterback must be removed from the game if one of the two active quarterbacks is able to return.
This developing story will be updated.