NEW YORK (August 30, 2012) -- The players' union has approved a rule change that will allow one designated player to return from injured reserve and play this season.

The NFL Players Association also agreed to move the league's trading deadline back two weeks to after games in Week 8.

NFL owners voted for both changes in May. But the union had to sign off on them and did so Thursday, six days before the regular season kicks off.

One "marquee" player placed on injured reserve will be able to return to practice after the sixth week of the schedule and to the lineup after the eighth week. That player must be on the 53-man roster after the final preseason cut, which comes Friday.

Moving the trade deadline could create more action than in the past, when teams rarely moved players at the deadline.