ORLANDO - Playing defense and special teams in the NFL is about to look a little different.

The league adopted two rule changes Tuesday at the owners meetings in Orlando, Fla. One is a ban of the hip-drop tackle and the other is an introduction of a hybrid kickoff rule.

The hip-drop tackle rule refers to plays where the ball carrier is tackled from behind with a swivel and a drop of the hips as he's taken to the ground. The league conducted a study and found that more than 200 injures a year result from this play, and although that's just more than one per game, the league found the injury rate on these types of plays is more than 20 times that of other tackle types.

"The league showed us enough examples. They just want to make sure they're keeping the game as safe as we can keep it," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday. "So, unloading and dropping their weight, and getting into a guy's knees and ankles, we've gotta take that out."

The ruling was not so popular with Colts defenders.

"When we see a technique that we think is going to increase the safety of our players, particularly at that kind of (injury) rate -- I'm not sure we've ever had anything at that kind of rate -- we're going to work to try to remove it from the game," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

The kickoff hybrid rule comes from a desire to bring kickoff returns back to the game in a prominent way that doesn't dramatically increase the rate of injury. The new setup will have the first line of kickoff defenders at the opposing team's 40-yard line, with opponents on the kick return team lined up between the 30 and 35 and two kick returners lined up deep.

The kicker is still on the other side of the field, and he cannot cross the 50 until the ball touches the ground or a player in the end zone or landing zone, which is between the goal line and the 20-yard line. Any kick that lands in the landing zone must be returned.

"There's no doubt, it's a dramatic difference. It will be interesting to see how each team handles it," Ballard said. "They want to get more returns in the game and to make it safe. So how do you do that? You close away time and space, or really space and speed of what the kickoff generates. Bringing guys closer together should eliminate that aspect. Unequivocally, there's some unknown here."

Bringing the kick return element back into the game could affect how the Colts manage their return spot, Ballard said. They used to rely on Isaiah Rodgers Sr., Isaiah McKenzie and Dallis Flowers for kick returns, but Rodgers and McKenzie are no longer on the team and Flowers is working back from a torn Achilles. Now, they need two options to return kicks.

One of those options could be Ashton Dulin, who missed last season with a torn ACL but who has 17 career kick returns for a 25.8-yard average.

The Colts could also use a punt returner, if they want to save Josh Downs for his high-volume slot receiver role.

Why the Colts should sign Jamal Agnew

One free agent they could give a look to after this rule change is Jamal Agnew. The 28-year-old is coming off of a fractured leg in January, but depending on the severity, he could heal up in time to join an offseason program. Agnew has four career punt return touchdowns and two career kick return touchdowns. He is also a gadget receiver who averaged 16.1 yards per catch for the Jaguars last season and has played for Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter in Detroit and in Jacksonville.

It's also a skill the Colts could covet in the draft as they have needs at wide receiver and outside cornerback.

"I've definitely thought about it," Ballard said of the return need. "It's important. It's very important."

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How new NFL new rules on hip-drop tackles and kickoffs affect Colts