The NFL is strongly considering using virtual fans in stadiums for game days this season, a source told ESPN.

The league used virtual fans for its draft in April and is exploring deploying the technology to compensate for the lack of real fans in attendance at stadiums throughout the 2020 season.

The NBA has been using a screen of virtual fans for basketball in the Orlando bubble, and multiple players have responded positively to seeing their friends and family during games. (Charles Barkley, on the other hand, hasn't quite figured it out yet.)

Celebrities, former players, season-ticket holders, and other fans have also been in attendance in virtual form in Disney World. European soccer leagues have been using the tactic, as well, during their mid-pandemic restarts.

No fans will attend home games for the inaugural season of the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium, and several other stadiums have announced similar measures. At best, some teams are holding out hope for 33-to-40% capacity, per ESPN, though that could prove challenging if positive tests continue to spike.

Considering the capacity of NFL stadiums, any virtual enhancement experience would be sizable. Not surprisingly, the league is also likely to introduce some form of enhanced virtual advertising to “fill” empty seats.

The NFL and players union have reached a “side letter agreement” on issues related to revenue sharing and opt-out clauses, but they continue negotiating game-day protocols and other machinations as they navigate how to successfully stage a football season during a pandemic.

On Thursday, the NFLPA announced that 56 players have registered positive COVID-19 tests training camp reporting began last week.