The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NFL and its players union dramatically altered how teams could run their practices. Rule changes included limiting the number of offseason practices, eliminating two-a-day practices during training camp and putting a limit on full-contact practices during the season.
While these changes were made in an effort to improve player health and safety, they may have had the opposite effect.
A significant number of injuries have taken place in the early weeks of recent seasons. Some of these could be attributed to poor conditioning or a lack of preparation to withstand the forces required for professional football.