The NFL has implemented a new kickoff rule that's designed to reduce injuries and eliminate the high-speed collisions that are typically associated with kickoffs. It's also going to increase the number of returns, which should make the play more exciting for fans and players.

Sean McVay, like every head coach in the league, will have to adjust to the new procedures and to put it lightly, there will be growing pains as teams get acclimated to the new kickoff.

McVay was asked about his thoughts on the new kickoff format and he doesn't sound completely sold on the change.

"It just feels weird. It doesn't look like anything that has been anything I've been familiar with football," McVay said Sunday. "I know the intent is right. We'll try to figure it out. I know everybody that's been involved in that has their intentions in the right place but it's a very foreign-looking play. However we feel about it, we have to be able to adjust and make sure that we adapt and it can be something that's an advantage to us. We'll continue to really put our heads together with Chase [Blackburn] and Chili Davis and with John Streicher and figure out what's the best way to execute that phase so they can be beneficial for our team. I think we also need to probably have some fluidity with it if there are adjustments as we go. When you see it against some other teams, it's one thing to work it against each other but when you see it against some other teams, there will be a lot that we can really dive into with the film. That's what I mean by interesting."

McVay also shared how the team has prepared so far, including in Sunday's joint practice with the Chargers – their first opportunity to experiment with the new kickoff against another team.

"This was a good opportunity to really get familiar with it in terms of just seeing it against another opponent in a little bit more of a controlled setting," he said. "There's a lot of work to be done. I think that'll continue on as we get closer and closer to the opener. I don't believe that the preseason is going to give us an indication of what this play looks like because I think a lot of teams that have some schematic things, they're not going to show it just like we wouldn't as well."

McVay finished his remarks by publicly leaving the door open for the team to sign a kicker with XFL experience. The new kickoff format was inspired by the XFL's procedure, used during the 2022 season.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Sean McVay says the NFL's new kickoff 'just feels weird'