We are a week away from training camp and the NFL is starting to have meetings with owners and the NFLPA to decide what will happen this season.
The NFL announced yesterday they will have daily testing for the first two weeks of training camp until the positivity rate of COVID-19 drops below 5%, then testing will move to every other day.
Earlier in the offseason the NFL announced there will be two preseason games instead of four due to COVID-19. On Monday, there was a report that the NFL was offering the NFLPA zero preseason games. After a conference call on Tuesday, the NFLPA has confirmed to the players there will be zero preseason games in 2020.
Updates from NFLPA call with players tonight:
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 21, 2020
– 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
It’s a blow to late-round draft picks, undrafted free agents and others players on the bubble of making the roster as they won’t get the in game reps during the preseason.
It’s also tough for teams, like the Chicago Bears to evaluate competition. The Bears were expected to have a strong look at quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and safety during the preseason, but now they are going to have to rely on practices and scrimmages against their own players.
Players were also informed that roster sizes are expected to be at 80 for training camp. We could be looking at around 320 cuts league wide. Some undrafted guys won’t even make it to their first camp.
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