Tag: COVID-19.

Bears NT Eddie Goldman to opt out of 2020 NFL season due to COVID-19

Bears standout NT Eddie Goldman has decided to opt out of the 2020 NFL season due to health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 virus.

Chicago Bears standout nose tackle Eddie Goldman has decided to opt out of the 2020 NFL season due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Goldman is the first Bear player to publicly opt out of the season.

Goldman totaled 29 tackles in 15 games last season. He has been stalwart on the Bears defensive line since he was drafted in the second round in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State. He signed a four-year contract extension in 2018.

The absence of Goldman creates a significant hole in the middle of the defensive line. Free agent nose tackle John Jenkins will likely get the first crack at replacing him when training camp begins on Tuesday.

Goldman joins other NFL standouts such as New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon as the latest players to opt out of the season.

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The Bears’ IDER plan has been approved by NFL

Each NFL team is required to submit and have approved an IDER plan before allowing players to enter team facilities for training camp.

Prior to opening training camp, each NFL team is required to submit and have approved an Infectious Disease Emergency Response (IDER) plan before allowing players to enter team facilities, per the NFL and NFLPA’s agreement.

The Chicago Bears’ IDER plan has been approved, just in time to start training camp on July 28.

One of the biggest questions is how the NFL will navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, especially given the recent outbreak of the virus among the Miami Marlins, which has resulted in the postponement of several regular-season MLB games.

While it’s difficult to ascertain exactly what will transpire as NFL players begin reporting to team facilities, the Bears have a clear plan in place. The team shared a video of Head Athletic Trainer and Infectious Control Officer (ICO) Andre Tucker, who shared some of the precautions being taken at Halas Hall with the arrival of rookies and veterans.

Bears rookie running back Artavis Pierce was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, the team’s first player to land on the list. The reserve/COVID-19 list status for players that have either tested positive for COVID-19 or has been quarantine having been exposed to someone infected with the virus.

Teams aren’t permitted to reveal whether or not a player has tested positive for COVID-19. Once placed on this list, the player is not counted on the active roster, which currently brings Chicago’s active roster to 84 ahead of the Aug. 16 deadline.

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Bears Camp: Veterans will report for physicals, COVID-19 testing on Saturday

Bears veterans will report Saturday for physicals and their first round of COVID-19 testing with the hope they start practices on Tuesday.

While it’s been an unconventional offseason, we’re just days away from the Chicago Bears returning to the practice field for the start of training camp.

The official report date is Tuesday, but according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns, Bears veterans will report Saturday for physicals and their first round of COVID-19 testing. That will be followed by a second round of testing and the hope that they can begin practices on Tuesday.

Per the agreement between the NFL and NFLPA, players will receive daily COVID-19 testing for the first two weeks of training camp. But before they’re permitted to enter the team facility, they need to have more than one negative test.

Jahns continued by noting that there’s an expectation that there will be some positive tests given the states where some players are coming from. But the Bears will handle that accordingly with quarantines.

Rookies were permitted to report to camp on Tuesday, and Chicago’s entire rookie class signed that same day and have since reported and had COVID-19 testing.

If all goes to plan, the Bears will begin conditioning and practices on the official report date on Tuesday.

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Bears players will receive daily COVID-19 tests for first 2 weeks of camp

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed upon safety protocols, where players will receive daily COVID-19 testing during training camp.

With Chicago Bears rookies set to report to training camp on Tuesday, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to COVID-19 testing protocols. Safety was an issue that was on the forefront Sunday as many NFL players, including Khalil Mack, took to social media to share their concerns for a safe return.

Now, the NFL has established some safety protocols ahead of the start of training camp that the NFLPA has agreed upon. There will be daily COVID-19 testing for the first two weeks of camp with an emphasis on positivity rates at the two-week mark. If the positivity rate drops below 5%, testing will move to every other day.

Players will also need to have more than one negative test before being allowed to enter team facilities.

Here’s what the NFLPA had to say about the COVID-19 testing procedures, via NFL.com:

“Our union has been pushing for the strongest testing, tracing and treatment protocols to keep our players safe. The testing protocols we agreed to are one critical factor that will help us return to work safely and gives us the best chance to play and finish the season.”

With players traveling from their homes to team facilities over the next week, there’s a belief there could be numerous positive tests. But there’s been some assurance from league doctors that the positivity rate should drop as players get into protocols and are being tested.

Bears rookies will report to Halas Hall on Tuesday, followed by quarterbacks and injured players on Thursday. The Bears will report in full on Tuesday, July 28.

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