NFL brings back emergency third quarterback rule - ProFootballTalk
The emergency third quarterback rule is back.
The league used to allow teams to dress a third quarterback for emergency purposes. If he entered the game before the start of the fourth quarter, the other two could not return. Eventually, the league allowed teams to dress a 46th player, without regard to position.
Few teams ever choose to dress a third quarterback, rolling the dice on lightning not striking twice in the same game at one of the most protected positions. For the 49ers — and the game — the dice came up craps (in the bad way) during the NFC Championship, after San Francisco lost both healthy quarterbacks and had no one else.
Now, the league has brought back the third quarterback rule, giving teams the power to designate a roster spot for an extra signal-caller.