The N.F.L. off-season has gotten shorter since the regular season was extended to 17 games, and it certainly feels shorter, too, given that once-mundane calendar entries, such as the start of off-season workouts, are now treated like red-carpet events.
Yet the down time between last season and this one is still long enough that impactful free-agent signings, un-retirements and rules changes made months ago have receded to the background. Here’s our refresher on the N.F.L. happenings to keep in mind as the regular season begins in earnest on Sunday.
Damar Hamlin is back.
Eight months after Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills safety, went into cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game, he made the team’s 53-man roster and will backup starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.