The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, like many NFL teams, may finally get to return to their facility soon after the coronavirus pandemic put buildings on lockdown over the past few months.
The NFL has implemented strict guidelines for teams to follow once training camp begins, including a mandate that there be no off-site training or joint practices. The league is taking the necessary precautions to ensure that players and coaching staffs stay healthy in this uncertain time.
But Bucs head coach Bruce Arians may be taking the precaution game to another level. Speaking on the Green Light podcast with former NFL defensive end Chris Long, Arians said the team is considering keeping a third-string quarterback away from the facility in case either Tom Brady or his backup, Blaine Gabbert, need to be quarantined at any point.
Per Arians:
“Yeah, that’s one of the things I’ve been pondering the last two or three weeks, as we set the protocols. From what I’m understanding is if you test positive, you get quarantined for two weeks. Now, if you have no symptoms, I don’t know what that means — is it a false (positive)? Is it… There is so much to learn and still explore with this thing. But I’ve thought about keeping the third quarterback on the roster out of the room.”
You can listen to the clip of Arians below.
Coach @BruceArians thinking ahead in what could be a unique fall. Link in pinned tweet for the entire pod. pic.twitter.com/tJZSGs3JR2
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) June 10, 2020
The coronavirus has made this an offseason unlike any other, and coaching staffs are going to have to adjust accordingly and have contingency plans in place should the virus rear its ugly head at any point between now and the start of the season.
Hopefully, relying on a third-string quarterback won’t be necessary, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
[lawrence-related id=35050,35043,35037,35028]