COVID-19 News & Rumors

Latest On NFL, COVID-19

June 29th, 2020 at 5:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rookies will face an uphill battle when training camps begin, with the NFL having completed an entirely virtual offseason. There might be even less preparation time for first-year hopefuls. July 28 remains the target date for most teams to report to camp, and rookies are slated to report a few days earlier. Teams may be rethinking that itinerary. At least one franchise will not bring rookies in early, instead prioritizing COVID-19 precautions ahead of the veterans’ reporting date, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. This team will then have all players reporting at the same time. This will certainly not be the last schedule adjustment the coronavirus causes the NFL, which went to a virtual draft, a virtual offseason and canceled the Hall of Fame Game thus far.

Here is the latest from the NFL’s defining 2020 story:

Even after the Cowboys-Steelers Canton kickoff game was canceled, the rest of the preseason remains on schedule. But the discussed acclimation period — on the table because of teams’ OTAs and minicamps being switched to virtual sessions — still threatens to eliminate part of the preseason. The NFL and NFLPA are discussing a “safe acclimation period,” which would consist of conditioning and could last multiple weeks, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (video link). Having an acclimation period before usual camp activities begin would wipe out part of the preseason. With the NFL having the option to exercise the 17-game regular-season schedule (and three-game preseason docket) next year, the days of the four-game preseason slate may already be over.
NFL-NFLPA negotiations are also including intra-facility safety. The sides are discussing adjustments on how players travel to and from various places in their respective facilities in the COVID-19 world, Pelissero adds. The NFL already issued a set of guidelines — from mandatory masks in non-workout settings to capacity limits in weight rooms to spaced-out locker rooms, etc. — but the sides still have some work to do on these issues, which have caused heated debates.
While it is not certain how often teams will test players, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said the league is planning an “ambitious” testing program, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). The NFLPA said recently tests can be expected to occur at least three times per week.
Agents will need to have conversations with each of their clients about the risks of playing the season in this environment by mid-July, per an NFLPA directive (via Pelissero, on Twitter). Players will then be advised to meet with a doctor on the topic of playing in 2020. The NFL has yet to implement an opt-out policy. While the NBA and MLB have done so, the NFL features a larger workforce — most of whom would put their jobs at risk by sitting out the season. But between now and the start of training camp, some clarity on the opt-out issue for players at higher risk (or players with family members in that category) will almost certainly emerge.

Lions Notes: COVID, Stafford, Kaepernick

June 26th, 2020 at 12:10pm CST by Rory Parks

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has authorized the return of professional sports, as we learned earlier this morning. She made it clear that capacity crowds will not be permitted until there is a COVID-19 vaccine, but Lions team president Rod Wood is trying to get Ford Field opened up to fans just the same. Wood released the following statement via the team’s official Twitter account.

“Governor Whitmer’s most recent Executive Order is an exciting step forward in our preparation for the 2020 season. We are working closely with her office to evaluate when and how we can safely play in front of our fans. With nearly 3 months until our regular season home opener at Ford Field, I’m optimistic and encouraged by our progress.”

It seems that most, if not all, teams will be playing in front of empty or partially-full stadiums in 2020, and Wood is hopeful that his club will be able to generate at least some gate revenue this year.

Now for more on the Lions:

Lions QB Matthew Stafford has been saying for some time that he is fully healthy, and the team posted a brief video clip of its signal-caller working out with teammates, which suggests that Stafford is indeed ready to go (Twitter link). While that’s certainly encouraging, it’s also notable that the workout is in contravention of the advice of NFLPA medical director Thom Mayer, who said players should not be practicing together privately. Stafford is by no means the only QB1 to be participating in workouts, and as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes, the 32-year-old signal-caller has made adjustments to try and keep himself and his teammates healthy.
Sheila Ford Hamp will take over her mother’s duties as principal owner and chairperson of the Lions, and she said she is going to take a very hands-on approach (Twitter link via Rothstein). Given Lions fans’ general feelings towards the Ford family, that may or may not be welcome, but Hamp said her first course of business will be to meet with members of the organization’s departments that she is less familiar with. As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets, Hamp specifically noted that she wants to learn more about the analytics side of the operation.
Hamp has also said that she would sign off on the team’s acquisition of QB Colin Kaepernick if her football people thought it was in the club’s best interests (video link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). The Lions, though, appear to be an imperfect schematic fit for Kaepernick, and in any event, neither Detroit nor any other club has reached out to him yet.

Michigan Allows Pro Sports To Resume

June 26th, 2020 at 9:15am CST by Rory Parks

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has authorized the return of professional sports, as Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press writes. Whitmer’s statement reads as follows:

“Good news, sports fans. We are now ready to gradually and safely allow professional sports to resume in Michigan. While this is an encouraging step in the reopening of our economy, it is critical for athletes to continue social distancing and taking precautions to stay safe. We want to keep our momentum going and keep moving forward, so it’s incumbent on everyone doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Whitmer’s executive order makes it clear that live audiences are still not permitted. However, the order does allow for the Lions to start training camp at the end of July as planned, and perhaps for the team to host a preseason contest at Ford Field.

Whitmer has maintained for some time that capacity crowds will not be permitted until there is a COVID-19 vaccine, which could happen at the end of 2020 or early 2021. But even partially-filled stadiums feel like something of a stretch for most teams, the Lions included.

“[T]he fact of the matter is, COVID-19 is a novel virus and that means it’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before,” Whitmer said in May. “We’re learning a tremendous amount. Every week that goes by, we’ve learned so much more about this disease and what it’s going to take to keep us safe and to avoid that second wave.”

So if the NFL season moves forward, the Lions will be at Ford Field. It just doesn’t sound like any of their fans will be joining them.

NFL, NFLPA Discussing Preseason Length, COVID-19 Reserve Lists

June 25th, 2020 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the NFL canceled this year’s Hall of Fame Game, Roger Goodell confirmed Thursday there have been no changes to the standard reporting date. Most teams remain on track to report to training camp July 28, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).

However, the commissioner said the preseason’s length is one of the items the league and the NFLPA are discussing. So is a possible reserve list designed specifically for the coronavirus, according to NFL general counsel Jeff Pash (via SI.com’s Albert Breer, on Twitter).

With the NFL planning to go ahead with its season amid the pandemic, players will continue to test positive — as many have this month. It appears the league is open to helping teams organize their rosters to deal with these scenarios. The prospect of expanding practice squads has already surfaced. Major League Baseball is expected to introduce a COVID list to help teams manage their rosters as well, so it is unsurprising the NFL is considering following suit.

Additionally, NFL executive VP Peter O’Reilly confirmed a report from earlier this week indicating the league will allow teams to follow local guidelines regarding attendance. The NFL will work with the CDC, with O’Reilly (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post, on Twitter) noting teams will set their own guidelines as to the number of fans that can attend games. While this will open the door to fans being allowed to attend games, it also creates uncertainty across the league and will muddle ongoing talks about managing the 2021 salary cap.

After the cancellation of the Cowboys-Steelers Canton contest, the NFL preseason slate consists of four games per team. But with no pre-training camp re-acclimation period scheduled, the solution for bringing players up to speed may well mean canceling more games and using that space to do so.

NFL Cancels Hall Of Fame Game

June 25th, 2020 at 8:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Hall of Fame Game has been canceled, per a Thursday morning announcement from the NFL. The league’s annual preseason kickoff was slated to take place on August 6 between the Steelers and Cowboys.

COVID-19 cases have risen all across the country and a number of players have tested positive for the virus in recent weeks. Not long ago, the league was optimistic about having fans in attendance for games and moving forward with its existing preseason and regular season schedule. Now, everything appears to be in flux.

As of this writing, the rest of the NFL’s exhibition period remains in tact. However, that could change quickly. On Thursday, the league will have a virtual huddle-up to discuss the fate of upcoming training camps and other in-person offseason activities.

Before this, teams were planning to hold training camp on July 28, which is the scheduled start date for most of the league. They were also hoping to have a pre-camp conditioning period. At minimum, it seems likely that the preseason will be shortened from its usual four-game slate to two games.

On the plus side, Dr. Anthony Fauci indicated that a COVID-19 vaccine could be developed sometime before the end of the calendar year.

Latest On NFL, COVID-19

June 24th, 2020 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL has scheduled a conference call with owners Thursday, and the discussion will include plans to reopen team facilities, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Players not rehabbing injuries have been barred from team headquarters throughout the offseason. As discussion between the NFL and NFLPA regarding the navigation of a season amid the COVID-19 pandemic continues, here is the latest from the coronavirus front:

Multiple teams are proceeding as if they will report to training camp July 28, which is the scheduled start date for most of the NFL, and that there will be no pre-camp conditioning-type period, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com note (via Twitter). This does not appear set in stone, but the NFLPA is not believed to be on board with an earlier report date. Additionally, a shortened preseason is likely following the late-July reporting date, per the NFL.com duo. A truncated exhibition slate has also been a recent topic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said this week a COVID-19 vaccine surfacing this year is not out of the question. Fauci said he was “cautiously optimistic” a vaccine would be available by the end of 2020 or early in 2021, Steven Nelson of the New York Post writes. Fauci added that vaccine distribution could come around the same time. These developments would obviously be a game-changer as the world grapples with the virus, and sports leagues would benefit immensely from a vaccine being available so soon.
Although Fauci recommended the NFL reconsider a bubble format — one the league opted against weeks ago — other doctors have pushed back on the idea the league can or should attempt this, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe notes. While restrictions on players when they are away from team facilities during camp and the regular season are not yet known, multiple experts informed Volin sequestering NFLers for so many months was not exactly feasible.
Shifting back to the subject of preseason football, the possibility of the Hall of Fame Game not taking place is on the table. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said recently that the game will likely not be played in front of fans and that the Cowboys–Steelers matchup would not take place if it needed to be played at this moment, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic (on Twitter). Cowboys officials have been skeptical for weeks the game will happen, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. The league could well opt to eliminate the early portion of the preseason schedule in an effort to give players more time to re-acclimate after the virtual offseason.

Two Steelers Test Positive For COVID-19

June 23rd, 2020 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that two Steelers players have tested positive for COVID-19, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

The 14th-year Steelers coach added that neither has spent any time at the team’s facility this offseason. Players who are not rehabbing injuries remain barred from teams’ facilities.

This continues a bad trend for the NFL and the sports world, which just saw tennis phenom Novak Djokovic and Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic test positive. These non-NFL names follow the likes of Sean Payton, Von Miller, Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Jackson and several others. Neither Steelers player has been identified.

The Steelers join the Saints, Broncos, Cowboys, Texans, Buccaneers, 49ers and Rams as teams that have confirmed players or other personnel tested positive for the coronavirus. As of Sunday, around 10 teams had seen positive tests emerge. College football teams have seen numerous players test positive, with some programs suspending workouts because of the virus.

The NFL and NFLPA continue to work toward a solution on this complicated front. The sides are negotiating on players’ return to facilities, how exactly training camps will work as 90-man rosters and dozens of additional personnel convene after the virtual offseason, and the formulation of a plan for the salary cap’s immediate future. The league’s stadium reopening task force is on track to issue recommendations by next week. The NFL has already announced recommendations for social distancing — from mandatory off-field masks to weight-room changes to the suggestion meetings be held outdoors — but because of its roster sizes, the league will be forced to navigate challenges the other major sports do not.

NFL To Let Teams Decide On Attendance Policies?

June 23rd, 2020 at 2:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

As record coronavirus case numbers continue to emerge in numerous states housing NFL franchises, the league the NFLPA remain in discussions on a number of COVID-19-related matters ahead of training camps. One key element in these talks: attendance.

The NFL has gradually come around to the fact this will not be an optimal attendance season but does not appear ready to concede fans will not be in stadiums. The league does not envision a uniform policy regarding attendance and is instead planning to leave it up to states to decide which teams can have spectators at venues, Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic reports (subscription required).

The league has communicated to teams they will need to follow local COVID-19 protocols, which have varied from state to state since the pandemic surfaced in the country. This could well mean teams will be permitted to separately set attendance limits this season, as opposed to the league putting the kibosh on fans attending all games.

“Attendance will be a state-by-state, county-by-county thing,” an NFL source told Kaplan. “It will not be a one size fits all. I wish they would push back the start of the year to October to give us more time to learn from these other leagues.”

The NFL has launched a stadium reopening task force that is expected to issue recommendations by next week or early next month, Kaplan adds. A team-by-team attendance plan would create some issues. Competitive advantages for certain teams would obviously be one of them, with the potential risk of fans attending games during a pandemic certainly dwarfing that concern. But the ramifications of a fan-less season would be significant. However, the NBA’s 2020 resumption setup will not feature fans. Major League Baseball

A loss of at least $3 billion would hit the NFL if fans could not attend games all season, which has prompted the NFL and NFLPA to discuss how to handle the 2021 salary cap. Around a third of the league’s teams have had someone test positive for the virus. This remains a delicate, fluid situation that has coaches uncertain on the logistics of the season. Florida and Texas have seen record surges over the past several days, and these states — which house five NFL franchises between them — were some of the first to indicate sports would reopen. Several other states with teams are now in the same boat regarding record coronavirus numbers.

NFL Teams In “Heated Discussions” Over COVID-19 Protocols

June 22nd, 2020 at 10:13am CST by Zachary Links

The league has tasked every team in the league to develop an Infectious Disease Emergency Response (IDER) plan for containing the spread of COVID-19. This has resulted in “heated discussions” within each organization as they figure out which employees can go where as a part of a “tier” system.

Tier 1 includes players, plus “coaches, trainers, physicians and necessary personnel” who require direct access to players. Tier 2 includes GMs, football operations staff, assistant coaches, and other essential workers. Tier 3 includes certain operational personnel, in-house media members, and others who do not need to be in close contact with Tier 1 folks.

Per a memo from the NFL and the NFLPA, teams will have to create a separate entrance for Tier 1 and 2, or at least designate times for each Tier to pass through. The “heated discussions” likely stem from the overlap in roles for any given club as well as the logistics of keeping each Tier separate during mandated times. However, it seems to be a necessary measure given the recent spike in cases among players. Roughly ten teams have had at least one player test positive for COVID-19 and many of those players were found to have the coronavirus after conducting players-only workouts without any formal protocols in place.

Around 10 NFL Teams Have COVID-19 Cases

June 21st, 2020 at 2:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Roughly ten NFL teams have had at least one player test positive for COVID-19, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. So far, we know that the Cowboys, Texans, Rams, Broncos, 49ers, and Buccaneers have had players diagnosed with the coronavirus. There are more clubs with positive cases on the roster and fear is mounting for all 32 teams.

In recent days, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and Broncos safety Kareem Jackson have tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier this year, Broncos defender Von Miller and Saints head coach Sean Payton also contracted it. Those are just the big names – a number of players and coaches have come down with COVID-19, and many of them tested positive during this second wave.

The NFL still expects to go forward with the 2020 season, though they are far less optimistic about having fans at games than they were just a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, the league is reexamining its COVID-19 procedures and safeguards. For example, the league may move practice squads from 12 to 16 players to keep rosters afloat. However, the league office is opposed to Dr. Anthony Fauci’s suggested “bubble” strategy, which would call for maximum isolation and all games hosted at a single site.

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