<P> The third quarterback rule was a rule in the National Football League that governed the use of a third quarterback in addition to the starter and the backup . The rule was abolished for the 2011 season, when the NFL increased the roster size to allow 46 players to dress for a game . </P> <P> The third quarterback did not count towards the team's 45 - man active roster . If the third quarterback entered the game at any position during any of the first three quarters, the starter and backup became ineligible to play for the rest of the game; the third quarterback could have entered the game in the fourth quarter while preserving the eligibility of the starter and backup . </P>

How many players suit up for an nfl game