The NFL passes rule letting teams bring two players off injured reserve in a season

For a little while now, teams have been able to bring one player off injured reserve per season, instead of having them miss the rest of the year. That has been a boon for players who have long-term injuries but a chance to return, and it has been a particular boon for teams needing one of their stars back on the field.

The NFL has just done teams and players the courtesy of making that rule a little bit better.

The only downside to this would be players rushing back on to the field before they’re ready because they have the option to, but that’s something you worry about with any injury in any scenario. This is going to make players happy because injured reserve isn’t a season-ending blow, necessarily, and it’s going to make teams happy for the exact same reason.

The Falcons may or may need wind up using this, but it would be an amazing tool if they (Football Gods forbid) lost a couple of key players early in the year and were able to get them back for a playoff push. Let’s hope they don’t even have to use one of these, but this is that rare NFL rule change that should be greeted with open arms.