NFL adopts new kickoff rule for 2024

The NFL hopes the new rule will lead to more returns. Who could the Commanders turn to as their kick returner in 2024?

The kickoff was once one of the most exciting plays in the NFL. However, with all the injuries over the years, rules were adopted that minimized the kickoff in recent years.

On Tuesday, the NFL owners approved a new hybrid rule that completely changes the kickoff in hopes of making it an important part of the game again but also keeping it safe.

Here’s this directly from the NFL:

  • By Competition Committee; for one year only, amends Rule 6, to create a new form of a free kick play that is designed to: (1) resemble a typical scrimmage play by aligning players on both teams closer together and restricting movement to reduce space and speed; and (2) promote more returns. Permits the Replay Official automatically review whether a free kick legally touched the ground or a receiving team player in the landing zone.

Essentially, the 2024 season is a trial run for this new rule and the league will reexamine again next March.

NFL.com went more in-depth on the new rule.

Kickoffs will remain at the 35-yard line, but the remaining 10 players on the kicking unit will line up at the opposing team’s 40-yard line. The receiving team lines up with at least seven players in the “set-up zone,” a five-yard area between their own 35- and 30-yard lines, with a maximum of two returners can line up in the landing zone.

After the ball is kicked, the kicker cannot cross the 50-yard line and the 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing zone or goes into the end zone. The receiving team’s players in the set-up zone also cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone. The returner(s) may move at any time before or during the kickoff.

Penalties on scoring plays also will not carry over and will be taken on the point after attempt. On any penalty that carries over to kickoffs, the set-up and landing zones will not change, nor will the alignment of the 10 kickoff team players and all the receiving team players — only the kicker’s positioning move.

Kickoff scenarios:

  • Kickoffs that hit the landing zone must be returned.
  • Kickoffs that hit the landing zone and then go into the end zone must be returned or downed by the receiving team. If downed, the receiving team would get the ball at its own 20-yard line.
  • Kickoffs that go into the end zone and stay inbounds that are downed would give the receiving team the ball at their own 30-yard line. Kickoffs that go out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) would also be a touchback at the receiving team’s 30-yard line.
  • Kickoffs short of the landing zone would be treated like a kickoff out of bounds, and the receiving team would get the ball at its own 40-yard line.

The legislation also will lead to a tweak in onside kicks, which can only occur in the fourth quarter and onward when a team trails. The kicking team must declare its intent to onside kick.

On the same day as the NFL approved the kickoff rule, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed one of the NFL’s best returners, Cordarrelle Patterson, to a two-year deal. The 33-year-old is entering his 12th NFL season in 2024 and has 22 career receiving touchdowns, 16 rushing touchdowns and has returned nine kickoffs for touchdowns. When you consider how the league has limited the kickoff in recent years, those nine touchdowns are impressive.

Will Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters add a dynamic player to the roster in hopes of boosting the team’s kick return game? Antonio Gibson returned kickoff the past two seasons, but he is gone. Veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder returned punts in 2023, but is unlikely to return kicks.

A name to watch is Kazmeir Allen. Undrafted out of UCLA last season, Allen remained on Washington’s practice squad all of last season. He re-signed with the Commanders this offseason. During his time at UCLA, Allen returned 39 kickoffs at an average of 27 yards per return and had one touchdown.

Washington’s new special teams coach, Larry Izzo, is one of the NFL’s best and will certainly look to prioritize the return game in 2024.

Steelers add former Falcons WR/RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson

Cordarrelle Patterson is a great fit as the Steelers’ new kick returner.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have added their third offensive skill-position player of the offseason. First, the team added wide receiver Van Jefferson, then wide receiver Quez Watkins, and now they have signed running back/wide receiver/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson.

Patterson started his NFL career primarily as a wide receiver and return man with the Minnesota Vikings, and his all-around skill set has allowed him to establish himself as a true three-tool player.

Over the course of his 11-year career, Patterson has 298 receptions for 2,795 yards; 514 carries for 2,511 yards; and 273 kickoff returns for nine touchdowns and an average of 29.3 yards per return.

New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith knows Patterson well from his time as the Falcons head coach and understands how he can impact the offense.

Patterson’s real value will be as a kickoff returner. The new kickoff rules will seriously benefit teams with guys like Patterson who can make people miss in the open field. It is early, but we expect a big season from Patterson on special teams and possibly a return to the offensive lineup as a receiver.

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11 Falcons free agents remain unsigned

11 free agents from last year’s Falcons team, including DL Calais Campbell, remain unsigned

The Atlanta Falcons prioritized the quarterback and wide receiver positions early in free agency, leaving many of their own free agents to test the open market.

We’ve seen a few players, including wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge and defensive lineman Kentavius Street, brought back on one-year contracts.

Cordarrelle Patterson and Van Jefferson both signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Mack Hollins landed a deal with the Buffalo Bills.

Defensive end Calais Campbell remains unsigned. Here’s a look at each member of last year’s team currently without a contract.

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent running backs

Top 12 running backs of the 2024 offseason

Given what they gave Miles Sanders last year, the Carolina Panthers probably won’t be sifting through the open market for a big-name running back this spring.

But just in case you were curious, here are the top 12 free-agent rushers for the offseason:

Cordarrelle Patterson by the numbers against New Orleans

Former Vol Cordarrelle Patterson by the numbers against New Orleans.

New Orleans (9-8) defeated Atlanta (7-10), 48-17, Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia during Week 18.

Former Vol Cordarrelle Patterson recorded 20 rushing yards on five attempts against New Orleans.

Patterson played at Tennessee in 2012 under head coach Derek Dooley after transferring from Hutchison Community College in Hutchison, Kansas.

He was a first-round selection (No. 29 overall) by Minnesota in the 2013 NFL draft.

Patterson, also a wide receiver in his professional career, has played for the Vikings (2013-16), Raiders (2017), New England (2018), Chicago (2019-20) and the Falcons.

Sunday’s contest was the regular-season finale for both teams. The Falcons and Patterson did not make the NFL playoffs.

PHOTOS: Tennessee’s Wide Receiver U

Has Falcons head coach Arthur Smith lost the locker room?

After Cordarrelle Patterson expressed frustration over his current role, Falcons fans are convinced Arthur Smith has lost the locker room

A few weeks ago, ESPN reported that the Atlanta Falcons were likely to retain Arthur Smith as head coach, barring a late-season collapse. Since then, the team has lost to the Carolina Panthers (2-14) and the Chicago Bears (7-9).

Whether or not those losses count as a late-season collapse, it does appear that Smith is losing the locker room. Even Falcons hype man/running back Cordarrelle Patterson seems to have had enough of Smith’s antics.

On Monday, Patterson liked a tweet that criticized Smith for failing to properly utilize him this season (a valid complaint). Considering Patterson has been the ultimate team player, it’s likely that his teammates feel the same way.

Cordarrelle Patterson by the numbers against Indianapolis

Former Vol Cordarrelle Patterson by the numbers against Indianapolis.

Atlanta (7-8) defeated Indianapolis (8-7), 29-10, Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Week 16.

Former Vol Cordarrelle Patterson totaled 26 rushing yards on seven rushing attempts. He also recorded two receptions for seven receiving yards.

Patterson played at Tennessee in 2012 under head coach Derek Dooley after transferring from Hutchison Community College in Hutchison, Kansas.

He was a first-round selection (No. 29 overall) by Minnesota in the 2013 NFL draft.

Patterson, also a wide receiver in his professional career, has played for the Vikings (2013-16), Raiders (2017), New England (2018), Chicago (2019-20) and the Falcons.

Atlanta will next play on Sunday at Chicago. Kickoff between the Falcons and Bears is slated for 1 p.m. EST at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.

Cordarrelle Patterson wore the drippiest gingerbread Christmas cleats for Colts-Falcons

Cordarrelle Patterson deserves an award for these amazing cleats.

Cordarrelle Patterson has one of the best entries for the coolest holiday cleats that we’ve ever seen.

Patterson is known for adding some flash and gusto on the field. After all, the guy is a kick-return specialist. He has a blistering nine — yes, NINE — career kick return touchdowns. He’s not new to the shine. He was born in it, molded by it.

We’ve seen Patterson drop custom cleats several times before. Like in 2021, when he wore cleats dedicated to pregnancy & infant loss awareness. Or in 2022, when he wore cleats hinting at a possible retirement.

So, it’s not shocking that Cordarrelle came with the heat for Sunday’s Christmas Eve matchup. The Indianapolis Colts and Gardner Minshew traveled down to Atlanta for a clash of teams fighting to earn a possible playoff spot. Before the game, cameras snagged some crispy photos of Patterson’s drippy cleats, and we gotta say: these are SWEET.

Did you see Frosty the Snowman? Perfection.

Cordarrelle Patterson by the numbers against Carolina

Former Vol Cordarrelle Patterson by the numbers against Carolina.

Carolina (2-12) defeated Atlanta (6-8), 9-7, Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina during Week 15.

Former Vol Cordarrelle Patterson recorded one reception for two yards and one touchdown. He also recorded -2 rushing yards and 21 kick return yards.

Patterson played at Tennessee in 2012 under head coach Derek Dooley after transferring from Hutchison Community College in Hutchison, Kansas.

He was a first-round selection (No. 29 overall) by Minnesota in the 2013 NFL draft.

Patterson, also a wide receiver in his professional career, has played for the Vikings (2013-16), Raiders (2017), New England (2018), Chicago (2019-20) and the Falcons.

Atlanta will next play on Sunday against Indianapolis. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. EST at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Biggest storylines for Panthers vs. Falcons in Week 15

Sunday’s forecast may turn a potentially ugly matchup between the Panthers and Falcons even uglier.

We’re not going to try and sugarcoat this Week 15 matchup between the 1-12 Carolina Panthers and the 6-7 Atlanta Falcons. This probably won’t be a memorable game.

But that still doesn’t mean we couldn’t find some intriguing storylines for Sunday . . .