The NFL Injured Reserve (IR) list is something that needs to be explained to most new fans of the sport. Given the size of a team's typical roster the IR list allows a practice squad player to step up to fill the void if a player from the main roster is injured.
The following answer most questions related to the NFL's IR rules:
1. When does a player go into IR?
A player is put on IR when they can't perform and are "not immediately available for participation with a club," according to the NFL.
There are several designations too, such as the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform), reserve/non-football injury, and reserve/non-football illness.
2. How long can a player stay on the IR list?
Players can stay on the IR list for as long as it takes for them to heal. The caveat however centres around their return where they have a four-week window to return to the main playing squad following their first practice after their return from injury or they risk becoming ineligible for the remainder of the season.
3. How many players can come back from the IR list during a season?
While in the past teams were unable to call back players from the IR list until the end of the season, the rules were tweaked in 2012, which now allows teams the ability to bring back a total of eight players from the IR list during a season.
4. Do players get paid when they're on the IR list?
Yes they are as in most cases the player suffers an injury during a game or official practice session. However, being on the sidelines may hamper their ability to collect any payments contingent on meeting any incentives.
5. Are players on IR entitled to Super Bowl rings?
Yes, teams are free to dole out Super Bowl rings to anyone they deem worthy including inactive players, coaches, trainers, personnel and staff members.
FAQs
Players can stay on the IR list for as long as it takes for them to heal. The caveat however centres around their return where they have a four-week window to return to the main playing squad following their first practice after their return from injury or they risk becoming ineligible for the remainder of the season.
How long does IR last in the NFL? ›
INJURED RESERVE
Teams place players on this list when they have a football-related injury and will need to miss at least a few weeks. Players on IR don't count against the active roster. If a player is placed on this list before the regular season begins, he's forced to miss the entire year.
How long can I keep a player in IR? ›
How long can a player be placed on the IR list? League rules may vary but most players can stay on IR as long as they are injured. Once they are set to return, you have to activate the player and have them count as a part of your roster.
What happens to NFL players on injured reserve? ›
Once placed on IR, the team may then replace the player on their roster. The player on IR may not return to active play for seven days, although they may participate in non-competitive events such as practice, meetings, etc.
Can a player return from IR? ›
NFL teams can designate up to eight players to return from IR during the season, and an individual player can be so designated twice.
Is NFL IR 4 games or 4 weeks? ›
Players designated for return from the reserve/injured or reserve/non-football injury/illness list are eligible to come back after "four games have elapsed since the date he was placed on the applicable reserve list," per the memo obtained by Garafolo.
Do NFL players get paid when on IR? ›
Those on injured reserve receive full pay for the season, but are forbidden to dress again that season regardless of whether they recover. Which raises the musical question: Why does injured reserve exist at all?
How do you get a player out of IR? ›
Managing IR on the ESPN Fantasy App
- On your team's home page, click on "Edit Lineup"
- Click on the "Manage IR" link at the top of the team page and follow the instructions to place a player on IR.
- To move a player back from IR to your active roster, click on the "Manage IR" link on your team page and activate the player.
The winning team can typically present any number of rings to whomever they choose, including usually, but not limited to: players (active roster, inactive roster, or injured reserve), coaches, trainers, executives, personnel, and general club staff.
How many players can go on IR in the NFL? ›
When a player is on injured reserve, he is not eligible to play for his team. There's no limit to the number of players who can be placed on the list, but there is a cap on those "designated to return" from the list.
While Tyrone Swoopes won the reigning title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn't as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.
Do players on injury reserve get paid? ›
Players do typically get paid while on injured reserve, but depending on their contract details, they may not be paid their full non-guaranteed salary.
How much is the lowest paid NFL player? ›
The minimum salary for NFL players with one year of experience is $870,000. It increases with each year: Rookie: $750,000. 1 Year: $870,000.
When can you return from IR? ›
Players who land on IR after cutdown day must miss at least four games. Once a team designates a player for return, the activation clock starts. Clubs have 21 days from a player's return-to-practice date to activate that player. If no activation commences in that window, the player reverts to season-ending IR.
Do players on IR travel with the team? ›
Players are permitted to stay with the team and attend games, though players may leave the team to focus on treatment, to avoid traveling with the team on a road trip, or for short term minor-league rehabilitation assignments to prepare for their return to the active roster.
Can questionable players stay on IR? ›
If a player in the IR slot has their status updated from OUT or IR to QUESTIONABLE or DOUBTFUL, the users roster is NOT invalid. Those players can remain in that IR slot and the user can make claims/add players, adjust their lineups as they wish.
How long is Cooper Kupp on IR for? ›
Cooper Kupp's 2023 season will unfortunately begin in the same place his 2022 campaign concluded. Kupp will miss at least the first four games of the season, as he's being placed on injured reserve due to a lingering hamstring injury, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday, per a source.
What is short term IR? ›
The NFL has had a short term IR rule, better known as the "IR with designation to return rule," in effect since 2012. By the terms of that rule, each NFL team could designate one player per season to return from IR at the time he was placed on IR.
Do IR players get Super Bowl rings? ›
The winning team can typically present any number of rings to whomever they choose, including usually, but not limited to: players (active roster, inactive roster, or injured reserve), coaches, trainers, executives, personnel, and general club staff.
How long does the average WR play in the NFL? ›
The statistic states that, on average, wide receivers in the NFL have a career length of 2.81 years. This means that, when considering all wide receivers in the league, the average amount of time they spend playing professionally is approximately 2.81 years.
