Instead of eliminating kickoffs, the NFL looks to be changing the rules beginning in 2018.
The league will likely eliminate running starts for the kicking team, along with only allowing three receiving players deep. It will also remove the two-man wedge.
The rules will be in place for players’ safety, according to the NFL.com reporter Judy Battista Wednesday, after the league’s player safety meeting in New York.
The hope of potential revisions to kicking rule: they hope kickoff and return teams are running more side by side downfield instead of huge collisions. Would look more like a punt. Getting huge, dangerous hits out is the goal.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) May 2, 2018
There were 71 total concussions over the last three seasons on kickoffs, according to Rich McKay of the Competition Committee, Battista added. And, a third of those involved the wedge.
The meeting drew input from special teams coaches, some head coaches and league officials.
Changes still have to be finalized. That’s expected to be done at a meeting May 21-23.
