This is probably obvious, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to put players on IR. I've found some threads talking about IR here, but none of them explain how to put a player on. Please and thank you!

If I recall correctly, when a player is injured severely enough a button will appear on his card that will allow you to place him on IR. It’ll be right up there with the Cut and Contract buttons.

Yeah that's right. It can be really annoying when a player gets injured for 6/7 weeks and there's only 3/4 weeks of the season left and you can't IR him.

I believe the player has to have a status of OUT (Concussion excluded)

And yes, if the injury is longer than the season it would be nice to IR despite the injury level (especially if you are out of the playoffs)

I think in the nfl you can do two guys and pull one off if he was put on early enough in the season . The whole thing needs a little tweaking , but be wary when putting guys on as they might heal faster than what is shown.

For seroius injuries when dealing with reserves they can be cut. I rarely do that . Or The injury is just not severe enough and it's early enough in the season to warrant not putting them on ir (only cause I can't take them back off ). I almost always do that . And in the rare cases of a high future young guy who I will put on ir, just to let him develop more and completely heal. There is plenty of other more detailed senerios but that kinda how I work it in general .

Still, I find little need for the ir . It's a little more important now , but so would be having depth at a balanced number of positions. In tougher leagues FAS (scheme speific)are hard to come by and replacing some one there is not really comparable , but a little closer as well of recent.

I think some elaboration isn't here yet only cause of possible exploits involving tanking that might come along with a guy possibly not warrantin an ir designation .

I definitely wished I had the option many times but really only needed/used it a handful of times in many leagues /seasons

The guy has to be zero at health at the injury location to ne IR'ed. I've seen guys knocked down to 2 of 100 and they can't be IR'ed. That might be worse. I think owners should have a little more flexibilty on when you IR someone. But not total freedom as then someome who IR guys who aren't even hurt to squirrel away extra players on their roster.

Here's a classic example of why it can be a problem.
I'm going into Week 16 midweek in one league and have made the playoffs. I have 12 players injured including 8 of three weeks or more of which 4 are five weeks or more and I can't do anything about IRing any of them.
I'll have 43 active players going into week 16....which will probably mean even more injuries.

MMR, a recent update force activates 45 players (I don't like it myself!) but just giving you a heads up to protect yourself. (your star players)

Thanks Smirt - I read recently about the 45 player rule. I've asked elsewhere whether activating players but taking them out of the depth chart helps, similar to having them dressed on the sideline but not putting them in the game.

You're welcome :) That's a pretty good idea. You can also shove your star players down the depth chart or activate probables whom are your 2nd and 3rd line players. But, yeah, do whatever you can to get your difference makers out from the line of fire.