Fans already were expecting the return to football to look significantly different because of COVID-19, and that especially will be the case now. Both the NFL and NFLPA have been working hard to prepare guidelines for the 2020 season and now the upcoming preseason has been eliminated as a result.
Updates from NFLPA call with players tonight:
– No preseason games in 2020
– Union still pushing for longer ramp-up period in camp
– Roster sizes expected to be 80 to start camp
– General agreement on voluntary and high-risk opt-out
– General agreement on stipend if games lost— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 21, 2020
Prior to Tuesday, the league had narrowed the preseason down to just Weeks 2-3, however, the players wanted to proceed with zero games. With talks ramping up this week due to the players being unsatisfied with the conditions they were returning to, both sides once again have found common ground. Now, the next key thing to figure out will be how to orchestrate workouts.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were scheduled to take on the Tampa Bay Bucs and Washington’s NFL franchise, but now their coaches will solely have to evaluate the team in practice. They will also have to base their final roster cuts solely off practice as well.
This news comes after the NFLPA and NFL met to discuss the frequency of testing this weekend. That resulted in the two sides agreeing to daily testing for the first two weeks of camp on Monday.
It was also announced that rosters will be reduced to just 80 players, which means teams will have to make some cuts soon with most rosters consisting of 90 players at the moment.
This could effects young teams like the Jaguars more than others because they currently have 30 rookies under contract and some may not get the shot they deserve. Once the rule becomes official, the Jags and the rest of the NFL will then have to make 10 cuts, putting approximately 320 players on the free-agent market before the regular season.