The NFL has amended its push for an expanded regular season. Per The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan, the league dropped its proposal for an 18-game regular season this week, replacing it with a proposal for a 17-game regular season.
Kaplan reports that the 17-game season would include a preseason shortened from four games to three or two games. The owners’ August proposal to expand the playoffs by two teams is still on the table with the 17-game proposal.
Owners decided against the 18-game idea following backlash around player injuries. DeMaurice Smith — who is seen as the voice of the players as the executive director of the NFL Players’ Association — was vocal in his stance against the 18-game proposal over the summer, but has not yet been reached for his position on 17 games.
