The league has had to take unprecedented action in order to prepare for the 2020 NFL season amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. There is still plenty of speculation regarding whether or not the timeline of the offseason will change.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, NFL chief doctor Allen Sills still has yet to determine if the timetable leading up to the 2020 campaign will be changed:
“We’re not putting dates on the calendar” when asked if minicamps will happen in June. “When we and the NFLPA together feel that we’re at a point of satisfaction with the science, we’ll move forward. We’re moving as fast as the science & data take us.”
Sills added that the biggest challenge comes being able to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when a player inevitably tests positive for it, via Terez A. Taylor of Yahoo Sports:
Dr. Allen Sills says the NFL fully expects some players to test positive for COVID during the season. That’s why the league’s challenge is to identify positive cases as quickly as possible and prevent it from spreading, which is why testing is so important.
The prospect of players going into the season knowing full well that they are at risk for testing positive for the coronavirus poses an obvious deterrent in itself. The fact that league doctors still have yet to confirm a legitimate contingency plan in the event this occurs is hardly an encouraging sign that this season will remain on track.
The league has already taken precautions by extending the virtual offseason program until the end of May. Meanwhile, coaches and players around the league have been adamant about maintaining a level playing field by holding out on offseason workouts until every team is cleared for a return to action.
The NFL has already acknowledged the possibility of this year’s games being played without fans in attendance. However, this will not be enough if the league hopes to ensure player safety by the time September rolls around.
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