The NFL sent a memo to teams last week allowing them to open their facilities to coaches on June 5. Only some teams acted on the change and brought their coaches back in, and the Rams were not one of them.
That could change next week, however. According to Albert Breer of the MMQB, the Rams will reopen their facility to coaches on June 15, but on an optional basis. In other words, if coaches want to go back into the building next Monday, they’ll be allowed to. But if they want to keep working from home, that’ll also be permitted.
Among the NFL head coaches who returned to work on Friday were Zac Taylor of the Bengals, Mike Tomlin of the Steelers, and the Packers’ Matt LaFleur.
Sean McVay and the Rams’ coaches have made it sound like working remotely has been seamless and easy, which is probably the reason for their patience going back into the building.
As far as players returning to work, that’s going to take a bit longer. The NFL issued protocols to teams regarding players returning to facilities, and it includes lockers being spaced at least 6 feet apart, using social distancing measures in meetings and masks being required when not taking part in athletic activities.
Meetings of more than 20 people are also prohibited and must be held virtually, as they have been for months.
Among the highlights here:
– Locker rooms reconfigured to permit people being 6 feet apart
– Meetings must be conducted virtually when possible
– Helmets, shoulder pads, etc. disinfected after each game
– Masks required except when interfering with "athletic activities" https://t.co/AvNO7Si2Gt
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 8, 2020
There’s still no set timeline on when training camp will take place, or whether the preseason will be held in full this summer, but the league is taking steps toward getting things back to normal at some point in the future.