Pre-Season too Long

After 17 pre-season football games, with 48 remaining, the NFL has been stricken with numerous injuries. In the Monday night Jets vs. Giants game, Giants QB Eli Manning is very fortunate he walked away with only a gash on his head. He was struck from behind by fast closing DE Calvin Pace from the Jets basically without his helmet on. Cardinals wide out Larry Fitzgerald suffered a knee injury in pre-season game 1 and fortunately it was not severe. Rookie RB Ben Tate broke his ankle and may be out for the season. On and on and there are still 3 weeks remaining in pre-season. What can be done with this? Probably nothing. You cannot expect the players to play touch football or flag football during pre-season games because many jobs are at stake. Guys are playing with high levels of intensity. Players are going to get hurt, some mild and some severe. Rational thinking tells me to re-structure the pre-season to 2 games and increase the regular season to 18 games with each team getting 2 bye weeks. Injuries are going to occur in football but to lose an outstanding player in pre-season is tough to handle. 53 man rosters are not large enough to meet the demands, the intensity, and the speed of the game. I like the 2 bye weeks concept. Players are so banged up come mid-season, they need a chance to rest their bodies to prepare for the balance of the season and possible playoff opportunities. 2 bye weeks spaced out properly would be a welcome sight for many players. The NFL needs to move forward and eliminate 2 pre-season games.