What is the Injured Reserve designation and why do teams use it? For an NFL player to be designated on Injured Reserve they must have suffered a major injury. The NFL defines major injury as an injury that renders a player unable to practice or play football for at least six weeks, or 42 calendar days from the date of injury. Teams designate a player for injured reserve when the player has already practiced making them ineligible for the PUP list and they will be out a substantial amount of time wasting the roster spot. Until last year when a player was sent on IR their season was over with no ability to return even if healthy. That all changed prior to 2012 season when the NFL and NFLPA agreed on a new "short term IR" rule change. George Atallah, the NFLPA assistant executive director of external affairs provided an explanation of the change via Twitter.
When Ray Lewis tore his triceps during week six last season many including myself thought the future Hall of Fame linebacker had played his last snap. The Baltimore Ravens put the new rule change to use and designated Lewis for return. Two things were accomplished in the Ravens designating Lewis the first was that fans continued to pack M&T Stadium remaining hopeful he would return to the field for one more game. The second benefit came from Lewis's teammates who pushed themselves to new levels making sure that they did everything possible to play with Ray's passion and intensity. Not only did Lewis return but the team's emotional leader left the game hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
Although having a future Hall of Fame player designated using the rule change and returning to win the Super bowl is unlikely, I look forward to seeing what teams may use the designation and what impact it makes.
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Follow @TheNFLInjuryRpt
Previously, any player placed on the IR list was ineligible to play again for the same team that season. Now each team can activate one player per season from the IR list.Seems to easy right place injured players on IR to save roster positions, then when one returns to health bring him back on the active roster. Not exactly, players must be "designated for return" immediately after being placed on IR. Expect teams to save this designator in case a high profile player goes down with the possibility of returning if the team makes it to the playoffs.
When Ray Lewis tore his triceps during week six last season many including myself thought the future Hall of Fame linebacker had played his last snap. The Baltimore Ravens put the new rule change to use and designated Lewis for return. Two things were accomplished in the Ravens designating Lewis the first was that fans continued to pack M&T Stadium remaining hopeful he would return to the field for one more game. The second benefit came from Lewis's teammates who pushed themselves to new levels making sure that they did everything possible to play with Ray's passion and intensity. Not only did Lewis return but the team's emotional leader left the game hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
Although having a future Hall of Fame player designated using the rule change and returning to win the Super bowl is unlikely, I look forward to seeing what teams may use the designation and what impact it makes.
Follow me on Twitter @okisasquatch
Follow @TheNFLInjuryRpt
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