Detroit Lions offensive tackle Jon Jansen, the team's player rep, expects an 18-game regular season schedule to happen at some point in the near future, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

"I think we're looking at something that, whether it happens next year, two years, five years, it's going to happen sooner or later, so let's work on the benefits package and see if we can change some of those things, and then we'll see if we can come to an agreement on everything," Jansen said on Wednesday.

During a press conference at the NFL's owners' meeting in Atlanta, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the league would make a proposal for an 18-game regular season schedule to the union. That proposal is expected to include a shorter pre-season, expanded rosters, and a changes to the league's injured reserve lists.

"All those things I think need to be taken into account," Jansen said. "And if we can work all those issues out, the 18-game schedule won't be a big deal."