The NFL regularly changes the rules for third quarterbacks. Teams don’t want to make room on the roster for a third quarterback who probably won’t get on the field. And the league doesn’t want to suffer the consequences if a team with only two quarterbacks sees both of them get injured in the same game.

According to Titans coach Brian Callahan, the answer should be a 54th roster spot and a 47th active player on game day, with that final roster spot going to the third quarterback.

Callahan said after trading third-string quarterback Malik Willis to the Packers that the Titans couldn’t justify using any of their 53 players on the roster for Willis. However, if the NFL allowed a 54-player roster with the 54th player being a quarterback, Willis might stay in Tennessee.

“They have to be on the active roster, so you have to carry three. That’s how it works. You can still train a quarterback and still move him up, but they still count. It’s not like a free spot, it sounds like you’re getting a free spot for a third quarterback, but it’s not,” Callahan said. “It’s a roster spot, it’s a real one, and you have to carry him at 53 to get that emergency quarterback. I would love it if they just made it a 54th spot or a 47th spot on game day or whatever it is, and you can just carry a third quarterback and they can go into the game if you need them to go into the game, that would be great, but that’s not how it works. I know they don’t necessarily want to pay a 47th spot on game day. I understand how it all works and it sounds appealing, but it’s still a roster spot at the end of the day.”

Callahan said the decision to trade Willis had less to do with his development than the decision to keep only two quarterbacks. He also noted that Mason Rudolph was more consistent as a backup to Will Levis during training camp and the preseason.

“Malik has really shown himself,” Callahan said. “Mason just continues to be the epitome of consistency.”

Yesterday, the NFL tried again to tinker with the third quarterback rule, but the NFLPA insisted that the third quarterback must be on the list of 53 playersThe Titans may introduce a rule in 2025 that allows 54 players on the active roster and 47 to play on game days, as long as the team has at least three quarterbacks.