The NFL Competition Committee is expected to pitch a rule change for kickoffs to owners during spring meetings.

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones expects the committee to propose a one-year alternative that will make returns part of the game again. 

Different options have been presented -- including the XFL model in which the kicking team lined up at the opponents 35 and the return team lined up at the 30 with only the kicker and return allowed to move until the ball is touched.

Of the 2,698 kickoffs in 2023, only 587 were returned with 1,970 touchbacks and 92 fair catches.

"I think everybody wants something different," Jones said. "They don't want a ceremonial play. They want it to be a real play and we just got to do it in a way that's safe for the players so you don't have the injury rate that we've had in the past; that it's more in line with what a typical football play is. So I think that's really important ... I think it can be a positive play that the fans would really enjoy."