Injured Reserve Rule Changed this Off-season; still confusion over 6 vs 8 weeks to play

[Reality]

Rule change could add strategy to bringing a player back from IR

March 23, 2016 - A rule change passed Wednesday morning basically eliminates the injured reserve – desginated for return list but does not eliminate the rule allowing one player per team, per season to return to action from the injured reserve list.

Now, teams can simply choose a player who’s been on injured reserve for at least six weeks and activate him once he’s healthy enough to play again.

Still only one player per season may be activated from injured reserve, but the team does not need to designate that player when he’s placed on IR. In the past, if a player was hurt in the preseason or early in the regular season, teams would have decide whether to use the return designation — or, in some cases, whether to place the player on IR at all until it had a clear timetable for a potential return.

Now, teams could potentially use some strategy and gamesmanship in deciding which injured player could make a late-season comeback. Decisions could be made based on roster strength and depth, or in the case of multiple players being potentially eligible to return, waiting until the last minute before a weekly activation deadline could keep opponents guesssing. Under the old rule, the player with the IR-return designation was out at least six weeks before returning to practice and eight before he could return to game action.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...d-strategy-to-bringing-a-player-back-from-ir/

 

[jobberone]

This is a big deal. Well done by the league. They need more options esp at the QB spot. Helps us.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Thanks for the update.

I'm still not sure though that even when they come back they have to practice for two weeks before playing. I hope I'm wrong but I remember seeing that as far as IR rules.

My other question is why did we wait for 2 weeks? Why not designate him earlier to get the time in, unless they know it's an 8 week injury and the two previous weeks were just part of the process.

No matter how you spin it, looks like 8 games which really sucks.

 

[percyhoward]

Thanks for the update.

I'm still not sure though that even when they come back they have to practice for two weeks before playing. I hope I'm wrong but I remember seeing that as far as IR rules.

My other question is why did we wait for 2 weeks?

Apparently, if this happened he couldn't come back onto the active roster until after 8 weeks. We waited for 2 weeks to do this because any player who is put on IR before the final cut to 53 can't return to the roster during the season.

 

[jazzcat22]

Now since Samchez is signe, if he really is, haven't seen it officially yet. Wonder if they move Tony to IR.

 

[jobberone]

Apparently, if this happened he couldn't come back onto the active roster until after 8 weeks. We waited for 2 weeks to do this because any player who is put on IR before the final cut to 53 can't return to the roster during the season.

Plus, the previous rule made you decide to use that one player only goes on the IR Designated to return. Now they can bring him back OR not and not use that one time option up. Probably won't make a difference but he could be out much longer that 6 weeks (+2 if that hasn't changed).

 

[xwalker]

Apparently, if this happened he couldn't come back onto the active roster until after 8 weeks. We waited for 2 weeks to do this because any player who is put on IR before the final cut to 53 can't return to the roster during the season.

I've been looking for confirmation that a player has to be on the 53 at the initial cut before they are eligible for return. That is definitely how the original DFR-IR worked. The move with Romo confirms it.

 

[Nightman]

Thanks for the update.

I'm still not sure though that even when they come back they have to practice for two weeks before playing. I hope I'm wrong but I remember seeing that as far as IR rules.

My other question is why did we wait for 2 weeks? Why not designate him earlier to get the time in, unless they know it's an 8 week injury and the two previous weeks were just part of the process.

No matter how you spin it, looks like 8 games which really sucks.

I think you are right that it is still 6 weeks before they can practice and 2 more weeks before they could play

That would mean Romo could start practicing after Week 6 and play Week 9.......since DAL has a Bye on Week 7 he would only miss 7 games

http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/...ills-proposed-change-to-injured-reserve-rules

 

[Nightman]

I've been looking for confirmation that a player has to be on the 53 at the initial cut before they are eligible for return. That is definitely how the original DFR-IR worked. The move with Romo confirms it.

Here is the news right from Rich McKay- it is after the final cuts and it is 6 weeks before they can practice and then 2 more weeks before they can play

Bylaw proposals, we’ve had a couple pass today. We had bylaw proposal number five pass from Minnesota which is on injury settlements with players and the ability to get those players back on your team sooner and we changed our designated to return rule. This one, designated to return, was submitted by Buffalo. Good change in our mind. It allows that one player that you’re allowed to get back during the season off of IR, it allows you the flexibility of not having to designate that player when you put that player on injured reserve or non-football injury. So the way the rule works is after the final cut, you can have one player that you can designate for return and have that player come back. Now you don’t have to designate the player. You designate the player when his time is up. In other words, his six weeks and you’re ready to have him practice, then you can pick who that player is. Better result in our mind. You don’t know when you put a player on injured reserve, you don’t know how that player is going to come back and what his timeline is, so instead of having to guess at it this gives you a little more flexibility. We think this will allow teams a little more efficient way to use the designated for return.

Clarification on the designated to return rule. I think right now, a player can come back after six weeks-practice after six, play after eight. Is that totally eliminated? Can a player come back to practice, be declared that player on Friday and play on Sunday?

The rule as it was written is exactly the same. In other words there’s no change in the six weeks, no change in the eight weeks, no change in any of that language. The difference is you don’t have to designate that player until the day you’re going to bring that player back to practice. The day you’re going to bring that player back to practice after those six weeks, you submit to the league the name, and that player then becomes your designated to return. It’s a good idea by Buffalo, and I think it will serve the clubs well.


https://nflcommunications.com/Pages...man-Rich-McKay---2016-NFL-Annual-Meeting.aspx

 

[AbeBeta]

Thanks for the update.

I'm still not sure though that even when they come back they have to practice for two weeks before playing. I hope I'm wrong but I remember seeing that as far as IR rules.

My other question is why did we wait for 2 weeks? Why not designate him earlier to get the time in, unless they know it's an 8 week injury and the two previous weeks were just part of the process.

No matter how you spin it, looks like 8 games which really sucks.

You can't put player on IR until today. That's why my

 

[AbeBeta]

I've been looking for confirmation that a player has to be on the 53 at the initial cut before they are eligible for return. That is definitely how the original DFR-IR worked. The move with Romo confirms it.

The only way to get to the IR before the cut down is to waive the player injured. If not claimed, he goes on IR.

Obviously not an option with any player of value.

 

[percyhoward]

Here's the new rule:

Article XVII, Section 17.16(C)
Reserve/Injured

Designated Free Activation from Reserve Injured.
During each season a team will be permitted to return one player from the Reserve/Injured List to its 53-player Active/Inactive List. Such player must have suffered a major football-related injury (defined as an injury that renders the player physically unable to practice or play football for a period of at least six weeks [42 calendar days] from the date that the injury occurred) after reporting to training camp and must have been placed on Reserve/Injured after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the day after the final roster reduction.

A player who is eligible to return must be noted as “Designated for Return” on the first day that he returns to practice. A player is ineligible to practice until six weeks have elapsed since the date he was placed on Reserve, and is not eligible to return to the Active/Inactive List until eight weeks have elapsed since the date he was placed on Reserve. The business day (prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time) that the player is placed on Reserve counts as the first day.​

If Romo were to be placed on IR tomorrow at 4:00, he wouldn't be able to practice until Monday, October 17. He couldn't return to the active roster until Monday, October 31. He would miss the first 7 games and return for the game at Cleveland Nov. 6.

 

[slick325]

Can practice after 6 weeks but not eligible to play until after week 8. I thought...

 

[xwalker]

The only way to get to the IR before the cut down is to waive the player injured. If not claimed, he goes on IR.

Obviously not an option with any player of value.

Depends on what you call "before".

They can move a player to IR the day of the cut to 53 before all cuts are made. This move is protected and never counts against the 53.

If they want the player to be eligible to return, then he has count against the 53 on the 1st day of cuts and can then be moved to IR the next day.

The third option is what you described. They can cut an injured player during the preseason or earlier and then move him to IR. This move is NOT protected... another team can claim him.

 

[xwalker]

Here is the news right from Rich McKay- it is after the final cuts and it is 6 weeks before they can practice and then 2 more weeks before they can play

Bylaw proposals, we’ve had a couple pass today. We had bylaw proposal number five pass from Minnesota which is on injury settlements with players and the ability to get those players back on your team sooner and we changed our designated to return rule. This one, designated to return, was submitted by Buffalo. Good change in our mind. It allows that one player that you’re allowed to get back during the season off of IR, it allows you the flexibility of not having to designate that player when you put that player on injured reserve or non-football injury. So the way the rule works is after the final cut, you can have one player that you can designate for return and have that player come back. Now you don’t have to designate the player. You designate the player when his time is up. In other words, his six weeks and you’re ready to have him practice, then you can pick who that player is. Better result in our mind. You don’t know when you put a player on injured reserve, you don’t know how that player is going to come back and what his timeline is, so instead of having to guess at it this gives you a little more flexibility. We think this will allow teams a little more efficient way to use the designated for return.

Clarification on the designated to return rule. I think right now, a player can come back after six weeks-practice after six, play after eight. Is that totally eliminated? Can a player come back to practice, be declared that player on Friday and play on Sunday?

The rule as it was written is exactly the same. In other words there’s no change in the six weeks, no change in the eight weeks, no change in any of that language. The difference is you don’t have to designate that player until the day you’re going to bring that player back to practice. The day you’re going to bring that player back to practice after those six weeks, you submit to the league the name, and that player then becomes your designated to return. It’s a good idea by Buffalo, and I think it will serve the clubs well.


https://nflcommunications.com/Pages...man-Rich-McKay---2016-NFL-Annual-Meeting.aspx

Yes, I thought it was 8 weeks to return to games. Many people think it is 6 weeks for Romo, but as indicated it is 8 weeks before he can play a game, IIUC.

 

[Nightman]

If Romo were to be placed on IR tomorrow at 4:00, he wouldn't be able to practice until Monday, October 17. He couldn't return to the active roster until Monday, October 31. He would miss the first 7 games and return for the game at Cleveland Nov. 6.

Yes, I thought it was 8 weeks to return to games. Many people think it is 6 weeks for Romo, but as indicated it is 8 weeks before he can play a game

You guys got it.......they can probably remove the part about 'confusion' in the thread title.....it has been clarified....8 weeks til he can play

 

[percyhoward]

Much respect for @bkight13 on the business side of football.

 

[Joe Realist]

Maybe dak will make romos return a luxury or if sanchez is playing, then it's a necessity.

 

[AbeBeta]

Depends on what you call "before".

They can move a player to IR the day of the cut to 53 before all cuts are made. This move is protected and never counts against the 53.

If they want the player to be eligible to return, then he has count against the 53 on the 1st day of cuts and can then be moved to IR the next day.

The third option is what you described. They can cut an injured player during the preseason or earlier and then move him to IR. This move is NOT protected... another team can claim him.

You are likely over complicating the spirit of the rule.

Either way, Romo didn't immediately go IR because we didn't need the space. Me, I'd keep him off. If we can get an extra game or two, great. We aren't deep from 45-53 anyway

 

[Cowboysfan917]

You are likely over complicating the spirit of the rule.

Either way, Romo didn't immediately go IR because we didn't need the space. Me, I'd keep him off. If we can get an extra game or two, great. We aren't deep from 45-53 anyway

This is what I keep saying... Our bottom players are not better than guys you could sign off the street if someone got hurt