A healthy scratch in the NFL refers to a player who is physically healthy but is not active in the game for strategic reasons. It is a term used when a player is not selected to be in the starting team or on the game-day roster. A healthy scratch is not an official term with rules, but rather a decision made by the teams coach or management. It is common for players to become a healthy scratch when the coach decides not to use them for a particular game. A healthy scratch can also mean that a player is fighting and gaining control on the field, and if they are flagged for a physical altercation, the team may choose to make them a healthy scratch.