Key Takeaways

• The Eagles employed punter Braden Mann as the kickoff holder for Jake Elliott in Week 2, attempting to ease Elliott’s ability to convert on a 'Dirty ball'—a low knuckleball—by having the ball placed at a favorable angle on the ground.
• Under the 2024 kickoff rules, a 12th player may be on the field as a designated holder in certain conditions, but the holder must be off the field immediately after the kick, and is technically a non-player.
• The rule text grants the option to use a manufactured tee but does not explicitly require one; this ambiguity has allowed the holder-on-ground tactic to exist until clarified.
• Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower indicated the practice runs counter to the spirit of the kickoff rule and suggested an imminent rule correction to require the ball be placed on a tee when a holder is used.
• If the rule is updated, the Eagles could continue using a holder but would be prohibited from placing the ball directly on the ground; the onside-kick provision would remain unaffected.
• Absent a rule change, the tactic could spread to other teams amid growing scrutiny, though the NFL appears ready to shut down the loophole to preserve the intended kickoff framework.
• The coverage includes related commentary and context from CBS Sports and other sources, with overall emphasis on rule clarity and potential strategic adaptations once the league finalizes any changes.