NFL Gameday Rosters Expand To 46, Third QB Will Be Active

Adam Schefter reported today that the NFL will expand their gameday rosters this season from 45 to 46, but the third QB will no longer count as an inactive player.

So this sounds like a change, but when you think about it, it's really not. Previously, there were 45 active players allowed and the 3rd QB was inactive. So if he cane into the game, your starter then became inactive for the rest of the day. So, this new rule change means that there will still be the same 45 active players, just that the 3rd QB will now count as an extra guy.

Really it just makes sense to do this. The 3rd QB rule always seemed unnecessary and overly confusing. Frankly, I don't see the point of inactive players at all... but certainly the weird rule about the 3rd QB never made much sense.

Now, presumably, all that stuff about the starter not being able to play after the 3rd QB etc is gone because he's a fully active player. That opens up a few interesting options. For one, it would have made all those years with Koy Detmer as the designated holder a lot easier. If you remember, Detmer was always listed as the #2 QB, but in reality Jeff Garcia or Kevin Kolb or whoever was the real backup, but they were listed as #3 so Koy would be allowed to hold. That wouldn't be an issue now.

I also think you could potentially see more teams looking at that third QB spot as a potential weapon. Maybe more teams will start employing hybrid or wildcat style QBs as that third guy. Think of the Jets with Brad Smith or the McNabb/Vick/Kolb Eagles...