What must a player achieve to be credited with a season?

To be credited with a season in the NFL, a player must play in at least six games on the active roster. This requirement is in place to ensure that players have a significant participation level during a season that can be recognized officially. Playing in games while being on the active roster indicates that the player has been contributing to the team in a tangible way. This allows for an accurate reflection of a player's experience and contributions in the context of their career statistics and contract considerations.

Other options do not fulfill the official criteria for a season. For instance, simply participating in training camp does not count towards an actual season; this is more about preparation than active participation in games. Similarly, being signed for an entire season does not guarantee that a player will play in the requisite number of games to be credited with that season. Lastly, playing in at least eight games would meet and exceed the minimum requirement, but the official rule is based on participation in at least six games, making the six-game benchmark the critical factor for season credit.