New York Giants rookie head coach Joe Judge is taking over under unprecedented circumstances.

While the coronavirus pandemic has had a more immediate impact on the NBA and MLB, it has also disrupted some operations in the NFL.

Teams were not able to administer their own physicals during free agency, and for the first time, the 2020 NFL Draft was conducted by virtual means. Moreover, the status of organized team activities (OTAs) and training camps remain unknown.

The next hurdle seems to be: will fans be allowed in the seats by the time Week 1 rolls around in September? Judge certainly hopes so.

While some teams and players have grappled with the notion of playing in empty stadiums, Judge acknowledged the role fans play in adding excitement to the game for the Giants and other teams around the league (via Tom Rock of Newsday):

“I don’t think anyone wants to play in front of empty stadiums. The fans are really a huge part of this game. Playing in front of stadiums, that’s where a lot of the juice and energy comes from on a weekly basis.”

A number of state governors have stated sports teams will indeed be allowed to play in their home stadiums. At the same time, many have stipulated those returns will need to take place without fans.

It seems rather unlikely fans will be able to watch the Giants' first home game in person. Coronavirus has had a particular prevalence in New York, where state officials are now investigating what is believed to be coronavirus-related illness in 100 children.

The NFL regular season is still months away, but as of now, it is hard to envision fans in the seats for Week 1.