You can still get all of the rules. I remember someone posted it somewhere a good while back. This link might be it, but I'm not sure.
http://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2017-nfl-rulebook/ 

Originally Posted by: beast 

Does the team have to jump through all the hoops? Meaning, do they have to cut to 53, then announce IR? Or can they just say, he will be starting the season on IR. If they have to cut first, then that also means who ever they would put on the roster in his spot needs to go through all the Post cut procedures before being able to be brought back.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

***For any player to be available as a short term return designation, the player would need to be on the initial 53 man roster.***

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa 

This may help guys.
question today on packers.com

Nathan from Baltimore, MD

Any players placed on IR between now and the cut-down deadline are not eligible to be reactivated this season, right? How many of them typically stay on IR all year, and how many get released with injury settlements?

The updated designated-to-return rules don’t require the player to be on the 53-man roster first before going to IR. It was like that originally, but not anymore.



http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-insider-inbox/article-1/Its-wait-and-see-time/d98b7ef5-41db-4d16-a088-20298779758b#ixzz4rTL7YhS9 

Originally Posted by: buckeyepackfan 

17.16
The following rules govern Reserve/Injured:
(C)
Designated Free Activation from Reserve Injured.
During each season a team will be permitted to return one player from the Reserve/Injured List to its 53-player Active/Inactive List. Such player must have suffered a major football-related injury (defined as an injury that renders the player physically unable to practice or play football for a period of at least six weeks [42 calendar days] from the date that the injury occurred) after reporting to training camp and must have been placed on Reserve/Injured after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the day after the final roster reduction. A player who is eligible to return must be noted as “Designated for Return” at the time the player is placed on Reserve on the first day that he returns to practice.

https://nflcommunications.com/Documents/2016%20Playing%20Rules%20Proposals.pdf  wrote:

steelersdepot.com/2016/08/ new designated return rule/  wrote:

Hey uffda, nice to see you post a 53 man roster projection. 😄
I see that two ST guys made it onto your as WRs too (mine too)

What have you been hearing about Donatello Brown? I haven't been hearing about him... of course every time I hear that first name my mind goes elsewhere.

Originally Posted by: beast