Chop blocks have been outlawed, and two unsportsmanlike penalties in specific categories can now result in an automatic ejection.
The NFL competition committee made those modifications and eight other rule changes during the annual owners meetings this week in Boca Raton, Fla.
Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson tweeted his gratitude for chop blocks becoming illegal, since defensive players dislike the practice of a blocker coming in low when another player is already engaging him up high. They were already outlawed on passing plays, and now nose tackle Xavier Williams said it will allow defenders to flow to the ball without being tentative on running plays.