As of last Tuesday, rookies across the NFL have been cleared to report to teams’ training camps. But with the current COVID-19 environment, the Detroit Lions have taken a different approach, despite being one of the eight teams to have an approved infectious disease emergency response plan.
The Free Press’ Dave Birkett is reporting that the Lions have delayed their rookies’ arrivals and instead they will report to training camp next week. The Athletic’s Chris Burke followed up on Birkett’s initial report and noted that “everyone is expected to be in on Tuesday for testing, then a 48-hour wait, then another round of tests Friday, then physicals”, which follows the established protocols set up by the NFL and NFLPA earlier this week.
Everyone expected to be in Tuesday for testing, then a 48-hour wait, then another round of tests Friday, then physicals. So it’ll be at least next weekend before the Lions get into strength and conditioning. https://t.co/GfT1q1dWVb
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) July 23, 2020
Once the Lions players arrive, and nearly a week’s worth of testing, then another 6-7 days of strength and conditioning/walk-throughs, then a ramp-up period in the third week. Details are still being hashed out, but based on the Lions and NFL requirements, it may not be until mid-August (or later) until the media gains access to training camp for reporting.