With the league giving all 32 teams the nod to open all of their facilities (if their local laws allow it), the Jacksonville Jaguars won’t be one of the teams jumping on the offer just yet. However, they will eventually get back to limited operations next week on Tuesday, May 26.
The Jaguars are allowed to open their facilities to some staff today (not coaches and players), but they will wait another week to do so. Jags plan on opening next Tuesday as part of phase one of their reopening plan. @ActionSportsJax @ActionNewsJax @ESPN690Jax
— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) May 19, 2020
This comes after the NFL closed all of its facilities by March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic, joining the rest of the sports world in terms of operations. However, they still were able to have the 2020 NFL Draft digitally to give fans some offseason content in what has been an unusual year.
Since, the Jags have been doing things digitally, too, having media conferences via Zoom. The team also started voluntary virtual workouts on April 27 and had all of their player to coach interactions through video conferencing.
Per Action Sports Jax’s Brent Martineau, the Jaguars will appoint head athletic trainer Scott Trulock as their infection control officer. The move is a result of the NFL forming an Infectious Response Team for all 32 teams.
The Jaguars are in compliance with the NFL and have formed an Infectious Response Team – appointing Head Athletic Trainer Scott Trulock as their Infection Control Officer. Elaborate protocols are in place for reopening next Tuesday of Jags facility. @ActionSportsJax @ESPN690Jax
— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) May 19, 2020
To get things rolling, the IRT has implemented testing which requires staff members of the Jags to complete training exercise, fill out a questionnaire, and have temperature checks.
Also per Action News Jax, the team will be using several safety protocols within the facility including the addition of signage, education about respiratory etiquette and hand cleansing, floor markings within the facility to encourage social distancing, and they’ll evaluate a process for cleaning protocols.
When partial operations begin again, a maximum of 75 employees and no more than 50% of the Jags’ staff will be allowed at TIAA Bank Field at the same time.
Under the rules that are in place by the NFL, coaches aren’t permitted to be at the team’s facility until all 32 teams are given the nod to have coaches present. Players who aren’t rehabbing won’t be allowed at the facility either.