The NFL is cutting two of its four preseason games from the 2020 schedule, according to a report by Kevin Seifert at ESPN. Here’s how he explains it.
“In essence, the league canceled Weeks 1 and 4 of its original preseason schedule. It had previously canceled its Aug. 8 Hall of Fame game. Most players will still report to training camp on July 28, but the first preseason games won’t be played until Aug. 20-24. The second week of preseason games is scheduled for Aug. 27-31. Each team will play one home game and one on the road.”
For the Panthers, this means they won’t be playing the Jaguars Week 1 or the Steelers Week 4 as originally planned. However, they will be keeping the two far more compelling preseason matchups on their schedule.
First, they’ll have to compete with a familiar face when they visit Cam Newton and the Patriots at Foxboro on Thursday, Aug. 20.
The Panthers will also get some national exposure when they host Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, Aug. 30.
The driving force behind these changes is of course the pandemic and the havoc it’s wreaked on teams’ offseason schedule. New coaches like Matt Rhule haven’t had any in-person time to get to know their players and install their playbooks.
Teams are still scheduled to start training camp on July 28, with rookies reporting one week earlier.
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