LATEST UPDATE: Bills propose allowing practice squad QB to serve as the emergency third QB

Several teams have suggested five changes to the bylaws. Whether these alterations will come into effect remains uncertain, as team owners are set to convene later this month at the annual spring meetings in Orlando.

One of the proposals, put forth by the Bills, aims to broaden the standard elevation rules. This change would permit clubs to elevate a third player from the practice squad, provided they are a “bona fide quarterback,” to serve as an emergency third quarterback.

In 2023, teams were granted the ability to designate an emergency third quarterback on game day following a situation where the 49ers found themselves without a healthy quarterback during the 2022 NFC Championship Game. The designated emergency third quarterback was counted as one of the game-day inactives and could only enter the game if the top two quarterbacks were injured.

However, under the previous rules, the emergency third quarterback had to be part of the 53-player roster.

The proposed bylaw from the Bills would presumably enable most, if not all, teams to carry just two quarterbacks on their active roster and a third on the practice squad.