Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL owners approve two new rules for upcoming season

PITTSBURGH — NFL owners approved a few new rule changes for the upcoming 2020 season on Thursday, but revamping the onside kick was not among them.

The owners tabled a rule proposal that would replace the onside kick with a “4th and 15” for the kicking team to convert in order to retain possession. An initial show of hands showed that the rule did not have enough votes to pass at this time.

Owners approved two rules proposed by the competition committee:

  1. The first expands defenseless player protection to a kickoff or punt returner who hasn’t had time to avoid contact.
  2. The second prevents teams from manipulating the game clock by committing multiple dead ball fouls while the clock is running.

The league also made roster management better for NFL teams, increasing the number of players that may be designated for return from injured reserve from two to three.