rule change proposal - late season IR

[Justin-Chicago]

I meant to post something about this in the offseason but am just now remembering...

Currently, I believe a player is required to be out a minimum of 6 weeks to be eligible to be placed on IR. That's fine for most of the season, but late in the season it can get dicey. Potentially a team may have to cut an injured player if they are out several weeks but not enough for IR eligibility, to meet the roster minimums. That would be completely unrealistic in the NFL, where a player may be put on IR regardless of how severe their injury may be.

Proposal is, once there are less than six weeks left in a team's season, an injured player on their roster is eligible for IR if they are out less than 6 weeks but still hurt enough to miss the remainder of the team's games (including potential playoff games.)

[Dean-Atlanta]

This makes sense, I would vote for this rule change.

[Charlie-49ers]

Yep, definitely within the NFL scheme. Unless there are constructive objections, seems like we should do it, effective immediately.

[Jerry-Redskins]

No issue

[Steve-LA Chargers]

We agree. Even if it doesn't really matter for the lowly Chargers now.

[Mitch-Oilers]

sounds good

[Dan-Cincinnati]

I think this is fine

[Rich-League Officer]

If you don't mind me asking, if this is unrealistic for the NFL, then what do NFL teams do when a player gets hurt in week 16?
How do they handle this?


And whatever we decide, it's a 2040 rule.

[Justin-Chicago]

If you don't mind me asking, if this is unrealistic for the NFL, then what do NFL teams do when a player gets hurt in week 16?
How do they handle this?


And whatever we decide, it's a 2040 rule.

They put the guy on IR if he can't come back that season, regardless of "how injured" he is! It is not rare for a playoff team to put a guy on IR in the playoffs and sign a FA to take his place.

Keep in mind there is no "out 6 weeks" known when an NFL player is hurt in real life, if he's placed on IR that tells you how bad his injury is, not the other way around.

This favors nobody entering this week, that's why I bring it up now. If we want to wait for 2040 then so be it, but why?

[Rich-League Officer]

Well, I am not sure I like the rule to begin with to just ink in the rule book today
I'm still asking questions.
Like, what if the player is hurt 2 weeks?
Should you be able to IR him just so you can sign a guy for the SB next week?

What about the idea that teams have to deal with injuries and if that means playing short handed, so be it.?

Just asking