NFL: Injury rate on kickoffs has dropped, similar to rate on plays from scrimmage

The NFL adopted new kickoff rules for the 2024 season with the hope of increasing the number of kickoff returns while also limited the number of injuries during the play.

We haven’t reached the end of the season yet, but the numbers are positive on both of those fronts. Through Week 13 of the season, 32 percent of kickoffs have been returned which is up from 20 percent in the 2023 season.

On Wednesday, NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller provided an update on the injury numbers. While speaking to reporters at Wednesday’s league meetings, Miller said that concussions and overall injuries are down across the board this season and that the injury rate on kickoffs has dropped to the point that it resembles the rate on plays from scrimmage.

The NFL adopted the dynamic kickoff rule for the 2024 season only, but the results would seem to point toward its continued place in the game.