I understand this. My point is whatever fringe roster player I'm "keeping" for this... what is that player going to do? Most likely be a gameday inactive for those weeks anyway? So I'm not even sure how that player is benefiting me on Sunday, and if he is, then he likely won't be the one getting cut when Bateman returns.
I mean its not exactly position for position (since that's not how teams look at things), but if Bateman goes on IR, it would mean we would potentially carry another WR, since we're down one.
So hypothetically we want to carry six receivers on the 53 man. Bateman goes to IR. Who are the six receivers? Hollywood, Duvernay, Watkins, Wallace look like the four locks. Bateman would be the 5th, but he's on IR. So you've got two spots left. Proche is having a hell of a camp by all accounts, so he gets a spot. So it's your sixth guy, who lets just say, is Boykin.
Are we dressing six on gameday? Highly doubt it. That fringe roster player we kept is likely in street clothes on Sunday, and then we're dropping him when Bateman returns. He provides no value on Sunday. I think you could say that for just about any player, regardless of position, since there's 5 guys per week who won't dress.
Which is why I say... what's the point? The only way that makes sense is if you get to a point at cut time when you realize Bateman isn't playing by week 3. Then sure, if the guy isn't coming back in 3 weeks, put him on IR. If I think I have a chance of him being active in week 2 or week 3, I'm not putting him on IR just to keep a fringe roster player who won't play on Sunday's. Said player still has to go on waivers in week 4 or whenever we cut, and they may even have a better chance of making somebody else's team at that point.