Just in time for NFL teams to have to make decisions on how to structure their 53-man regular-season rosters, the NFLPA has finally approved the new Injured Reserve rule and the change to the trade deadline that were OK'd by owners during the offseason, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Per Schefter "Teams now will be allowed to re-activate one player from Reserve/Injured during the 2012 season, subject to certain restrictions."
What are those restrictions? Again from Schefter: "Only players with a "major injury" who are placed on Reserve/Injured after 4 p.m., New York time, on Tuesday, September 4, or thereafter during the season, will be eligible to be reactivated at a later time." Per the NFL a "major injury" is defined as "an injury that renders the player unable to practice or play football for at least six weeks (42 calendar days) from the date of injury."
George Atallah of the NFLPA tweeted "Language being finalized, but there is an agreement between NFL & NFLPA on changes to IR and trade deadline."
This means that someone like Justin Trattou, who is already on IR, could not be brought back. It could, however, be good news for cornerback Terrell Thomas or defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Both of those players are candidates to be placed on IR when the 53-man roster is constructed on Friday, especially now that the Giants could bring one of them back later in the season.
The trade deadline will now be the Tuesday after the eighth week of the season.