NASHVILLE — While the Tennessee Titans are yet to name their backup quarterback for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, keeping three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster makes the league's new quarterback rule very relevant for the Titans.

Traditionally, teams are only allowed to have 48 players from a 53-man roster active on game days and eligible to play. In 2023, that number jumps to 49 if the 49th is an emergency quarterback that is also on the active roster. 

Here's a refresher on the rule from a recent NFL press release.

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"A club may designate a bona fide quarterback as an Inactive/Emergency Third Quarterback for a regular-season or postseason game. The player must be listed on the Gameday Administration Report that is submitted prior to or at the 90-minute meeting, subject to the following:

1. The Emergency Third Quarterback must be on the club's 53-player roster; the player cannot be an elevated Practice Squad player. The club's starting quarterback (QB1) and its backup quarterback (QB2) must also be on the club's 53-player roster.

2. A club must have two bona fide quarterbacks on its 47/48-player gameday

3. A club cannot designate an Emergency Third Quarterback if it has three or
more bona fide quarterbacks on its 47/48-player gameday active list."

Because the rule allows for a third quarterback to suit up and play if needed, it wouldn't make sense for the Titans to keep Ryan Tannehill, Will Levis, and Malik Willis all active on Sunday in New Orleans.

So let's say, for example, Tennessee decides to use Willis as their backup on Sunday. Levis would show up on the inactive list prior to the game and would only be eligible to play if both Tannehill and Willis leave the game with an injury or ejection.

Mike Vrabel said on Monday that there had not yet been a decision made about backup quarterback. But Vrabel will only be able to withhold that information for so long, because once the list of inactives comes out 90 minutes prior to kickoff, the Titans' quarterback hierarchy will be made clear. 

"I think a lot of it is based on the game plan, about how we feel like who would step in there and help us," said Vrabel.

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