On Monday, the NFL’s Player’s Association (NFLPA) fielded a call with NFL agents to discuss the dynamics of a return to football this fall. As COVID-19 continues to grip the country, professional sports teams and leagues are steadily working their way back into position to reopen — but the NFL has had the luxury of time on their side. When the COVID-19 pandemic smacked into the United States, the NFL was about halfway through their NFL Draft process; but they had approximately 6 months to monitor, adjust and install policies and procedures that are aimed at protecting the players and their families.
This season, presuming it goes off as planned, will be like any other in recent memory. And, thanks to yesterday’s call with the NFLPA, some of the details regarding how the league hopes and plans for stability have been brought to light. One major development?
The COVID-19 testing will be persistent. Very persistent.
During the NFLPA's call with agents today, NFLPA medical director Thom Mayer said that players, upon return, should expect to be tested every 3 days.
Mayer to the agents: "You can't fit the virus into football, you have to fit football into the virus. This is a badass virus."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 15, 2020
Testing frequently will, presumably, allow for minimal opportunities for contamination within the locker room — and any players who do test positive will be quarantined for the necessary time to allow the virus to pass. While some NFL talents, such as Denver’s Von Miller, have already endured a bought with the virus, reports have broken that some other prominent NFL stars have recently tested positive — including Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.
#Cowboys star RB Ezekiel Elliott is one of the players who has tested positive for the Coronavirus, his agent Rocky Arceneaux confirmed to me. Arceneaux said Elliott is feeling good.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 15, 2020
The showdown with coronavirus will not be going away any time soon. That is an unfortunate reality. But if the NFL has their way, policies will be instilled to allow the league to take the field this fall regardless. More details will follow regarding how the league hopes to successfully carry onward this year — although we now also know that there will be no mini-camps later this month, as well.