Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer elected to end the state’s stay-at-home lockdown order effective June 8th. Whitmer’s latest executive order will allow outdoor athletic practices, training sessions, or games to re-start with groups of up to 100 people present.
However, the Detroit Lions won’t be able to immediately jump right back into business as usual.
The NFL extended the virtual offseason period through June 12th and that mandate covers all 32 member clubs. Other than injured players receiving treatment, no players are allowed within team facilities. The Lions scheduled mandatory minicamp, from June 9-11, will need to be held virtually despite the latest edict from governor Whitmer.
Beyond the NFL’s own restrictions, the social distancing requirements laid out in Whitmer’s executive order remain firmly in place. While loosening restrictions, it notes that “participants not from the same household (must) maintain 6 feet of distance from one another at all times” during athletic activities.”
This is a necessary step toward the Lions being able to host training camp in late July at the team’s facility in Allen Park. There is still no word on what will happen with training camp, preseason or fans being allowed into Ford Field for scheduled games in the fall.