Texans, NFL Must Adapt to Major Rule Change in 2023

The NFL made some significant rule changes for the 2023 season, but there might be one that stands out about the rest.

While the Houston Texans kick off the second week of OTAs, the NFL has approved a few notable changes for the upcoming season.

NFL owners recently met for the annual spring meeting, and among the approved proposals are the ability to flex Thursday Night Football games and the "emergency" third quarterback position. However, the biggest change is to kickoffs.

The new rule will give the receiving team the ball at its own 25 with a fair catch of a kickoff anywhere behind that yard line — just as if the kickoff had gone through the end zone.

The NFL reasons that the change will reduce the risk of injuries - especially concussions - on kickoffs, which are typically one of the most dangerous parts of the game. The argument against the rule is centered around concerns it pushes the kickoff return further toward irrelevance and will lead to uglier plays with squib and corner kicks.

All this will certainly impact how Houston's returners will make decisions on kickoffs. Tremon Smith and Desmond King II handled kickoff duties last season; King II is still on the roster and Smith signed with the Denver Broncos. 

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has concerns about the special teams change. The reigning Super Bowl Champions Chiefs are favorites to again win the Lombardi Trophy but will have to make special teams adjustments like the Texans and the rest of the league. Reid told reporters last week that he worries about one change will turn into many that will ultimately transform the game in a negative way.

“So you start taking pieces (away), and we’ll see how this goes, but you don’t want to take too many pieces away," Reid said. "You’ll be playing flag football.”

The kickoff rule is a one-year change that will be reevaluated next off-season. Reports suggested that this change had been opposed by a significant number of the league’s special-teams coaches.

With a new-look roster after an active offseason, Houston aims for its first winning season in four years by adjusting to the internal and external shifts in 2023.

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