Tag: minicamp

Broncos expected to begin training camp on July 28

The Broncos are expected to begin training camp in late July.

The Denver Broncos are not expected to hold a minicamp this summer due to COVID-19 but the team is still expected to start training camp on time.

The Broncos — and 29 other teams — are expected to have their players report for training camp on July 28. Under terms of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement with players, teams will report to camp 47 or 48 days before the start of the regular season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The two teams that won’t report on July 28 — the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans — will report on July 25, which is 47 days ahead of their season-opening clash on Thursday, Sept. 10. The rest of the league will play their first games on Sunday, Sept. 13 or Monday, Sept. 14.

Denver will host the Tennesee Titans on “Monday Night Football” in Week 1, which means Broncos players will be reporting to camp 48 days before their first game. The NFL has not yet said if fans will be permitted to attend training camp practices but it seems likely that teams will practice behind closed doors this summer.

[vertical-gallery id=642416]

Cowboys, NFL players closer to returning, but protocol questions remain

The league is telling teams to gear up for the players’ return, which could come for certain individuals by the end of June.

Little by little, life is trying to get back to its pre-COVID state. NFL coaches were allowed back into team offices last week. Their players may not be too far behind.

The league on Monday sent out detailed protocols that explain how 2,000-plus players on 32 teams will go about returning to a workplace where social distancing is impossible. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, no dates have been set, but indications are that certain players may be permitted back inside their club’s facilities before the end of the month.

In a subsequent tweet, Pelissero pointed out the following highlights from the new league protocols:

Locker rooms are to be reconfigured to permit people being six feet apart.

Meetings must be conducted virtually when possible.

Helmets, shoulder pads, and similar pieces of gear are to be disinfected after each game.

Masks will be required except when interfering with “athletic activities.”

It’s an encouraging sign for an on-time kickoff to the 2020 season, though some support remains for a delayed October start. Of course, the season itself will be unusual for many reasons, not the least of which is the likelihood of stadiums at half capacity on gameday. That is a key precaution to be implemented in hopes of preventing a resurgence of the coronavirus. But despite the league’s medical protocols for teams, coaches, and players, there is still a monumental question looming.

How (and how often) players will be tested and what happens if a test comes back positive are still issues to be resolved. But the league is asking everyone to maintain their current practices in the meantime.

Pelissero notes- and SI‘s Peter King has a source who agrees- that team minicamps are not expected to happen, “but the NFL and NFLPA are discussing the possibility of certain players — such as rookies, and veterans who changed teams and need physicals — returning to club facilities on a limited basis before June 26, per sources.”

King gives more detail on the possible timing of players reporting in his MMQB column:

“The new CBA dictates that teams can report 47 days before their first regular season game (a change from the old 14-day rule), meaning the report date for most teams would be July 28. Meanwhile, the joint committee on health and safety is recommending an acclimation period before camp, given the lack of football activity these guys have had, of at least a week or two (and up to three). The good news is, the new CBA builds in a five-day acclimation period. The bad news is players may need more than that under these unique circumstances. So the league has floated the idea of an earlier report date closer to the middle of July, to give players a better chance to get their feet underneath them.”

It’s a fluid situation, and there are still plenty of details to be ironed out. But we are getting closer to football.

[vertical-gallery id=645744]

[vertical-gallery id=648572]

[vertical-gallery id=646270]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Broncos players might not report to facility until training camp

Broncos players might not report to the team’s facility until training camp in late July.

NFL coaches were allowed to return to facilities last week but players might not report for minicamp this year due to COVID-19.

As of now, Broncos coach Vic Fangio is not expecting players to report to UCHealth Training Center until late July for training camp.

“Right now, we won’t be on the field until training camp,” Fangio said on June 2. “If that changes between now and then, then we will adjust. So our meetings will continue to be virtual. We won’t be behind any more than anyone else is. It’d be different if half the teams were shut down and half weren’t.

“It’s even-steven, and luckily me and a bunch of the other coaches have had experience with the lockout in 2011. From a football standpoint, it’s very similar to that. I’m not too worked up or worried about where we’re at verses where we could be. It so happens that in 2011 I was with the Niners then and we were a totally new staff where everything was new. We hadn’t even met our players and we didn’t meet our players until training camp started, and we did fine that year. I don’t see it as a big issue.”

Following the lockout, San Franciso went 13-3 in the regular season and advanced all the way to the NFC Championship Game in the playoffs. The 49ers then lost to the Giants, who went on to win the Super Bowl.

[vertical-gallery id=642416]

Report: NFL teams might hold minicamps in June

NFL teams could potentially hold minicamps in June, according to a new report.

NFL teams had to modify in-person organized team activities this spring, replacing them with online meetings and workouts due to COVID-19.

Teams have been slowly re-opening their headquarters, though, and there’s a new report that head coaches might return to facilities as early as next week.

“If coaches resume their in-house work next week, minicamps including players could be scheduled as early as June 15 or as late as June 27,” according to a report from Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports.

That sounds like a promising step toward NFL teams being able to hold training camps on time in late July but NFLPA president JC Tretter poured some cold water on Robinson’s reporting.

“There is a hard stop date for our offseason program on June 26th,” Tretter tweeted Robinson on Tuesday. “Your source not knowing that and saying June 27th is an option to return should show everyone that this source’s info is questionable.”

The Broncos are still hoping to start training camp on time and the NFL has said that it is aiming to start the regular season on time as well.

[vertical-gallery id=639217]

NFLPA president says players haven’t agreed to a re-opening plan

NFL players have not yet agreed to return to team facilities.

NFL teams have started re-opening their facilities but players have not yet agreed to return to training amid COVID-19, NFL Players Association president JC Tretter tweeted on Tuesday.

“Players: our union has not agreed to any reopening plan,” Tretter wrote on his Twitter page, @JCTretter. “Any reports about coming back to work are hypothetical. You will hear from the NFLPA when there are new developments.”

Tretter is the Browns’ starting center. He was voted the NFLPA’s new president in March.

The Broncos have started slowly re-opening their facilities but only players rehabbing from injuries are allowed at the training facility. There have been reports that NFL teams might hold minicamps in mid-June.

Denver is hoping to start training camp on time in late July. The Broncos’ first preseason game has been scheduled for Aug. 15 and their regular-season opener is set to take place on Sept. 14. View the team’s full schedule here.

[vertical-gallery id=640413]

NFL coaches could begin to return to team facilities soon as next week

NFL coaches could begin to return to team facilities as soon as next week amidst the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the nation.

NFL facilities around the country have begun to slowly open their doors, must it’s been mostly operational staff who have been allowed to return. A new report now indicates that head coaches could also be allowed back inside the buildings as soon as next week.

“The sources told Yahoo Sports that if coaches resume their in-house work next week, minicamps including players could be scheduled as early as June 15 or as late as June 27, depending on COVID-19 data and whether a handful of franchises get a “go ahead” signal from state governments to resume full operations,” writes Yahoo Sports columnist, Charles Robinson.

Robinson notes that California Governor Gavin Newsom’s actions could be the “key hurdle” to teams opening up around the nation.

“If California is open for [team] operations soon, minicamps can still happen in June – probably late June, I’d think – but maybe even mid-June,” Robinson continues, citing yet another league source.

But with COVID-19 cases around the country starting to climb once again, the NFL may be hesitant to resume full operations too quickly.

[lawrence-related id=62242]

What are Broncos players missing with no OTAs?

Broncos players aren’t getting a traditional offseason experience with no OTAs.

In a normal offseason, the Broncos would hold organized team activities (OTAs) around this time of year, complete with in-person meetings and light on-field practices to prepare players for going full-speed in training camp.

In an offseason impacted by COVID-19, Denver has turned to a virtual offseason program, with meetings and workouts held online. With no OTAs, Broncos players are missing out on hearing and visualizing plays in the huddle and running through their routes.

“You miss the huddle calls,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said on May 14. “You miss being able to hear Drew [Lock] call out a play in the huddle, us break the huddle and lining up and ready to play. That’s something that’s so underrated. I think people see us at games and it looks so smooth, but that’s over time of practice before you even get to camp. When you start adding this time into is, the OTAs that we’re not getting, those reps that we’re not getting, those are reps that are quality.”

Sutton said one of Denver’s coaches estimated that the team ran through 300 plays during OTAs last spring.

“That’s 300 reps that you don’t have right now, that we don’t get in terms of getting in the huddle, hearing the whole play call, lining up and going and running whether that’s verses the defense or not,” Sutton said. “Being able to do that part as an offense is so huge.”

It’s unfortunate that Broncos players are missing out on those reps but the good news is that every team in the league is going through the same situation. Denver shouldn’t be more behind than any other team.

Sutton believes that when the Broncos are able to get back on the field, it won’t take too long to make up for the OTAs that were missed.

“It does set you back, but I have faith in the coaches and preparing every room,” Sutton said. “I have faith that we as players have taken every opportunity we can with this and running with it so that when we do get a chance to get on the field it’s not going to be something that could take a whole week to get people acclimated to it.

“It would be a couple days because you have such good teachers in terms of the coaches and the vets in each room.”

[vertical-gallery id=639134]

NFL and NFLPA agree to virtual offseason program

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Football League and the Players Association have agreed to a virtual offseason program.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the start of the National Football League’s offseason program will look drastically different this year.

With all team facilities closed until further notice, the NFL and NFLPA have now agreed to the terms of a virtual offseason, which will begin April 20 for clubs with new head coaches and April 27 for all other teams around the league.

The voluntary program will include classroom instruction, workouts and non-football education programs conducted in a virtual format. No teams are allowed to resume activities at club headquarters until all 32 teams have been safely cleared to return.

While participation is voluntary, players who opt into the program will be eligible to earn their off-season workout bonuses. Should team facilities remained closed by the scheduled start of minicamps, clubs may conduct a virtual minicamp for veteran players.

For more information and complete details on the NFL’s virtual offseason, click here.

[lawrence-related id=59178]

Bill O’Brien expects the Texans’ offseason workout program to be canceled

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien expects the club’s offseason workout program, scheduled for April 20, to be canceled.

April 6 was supposed to be the first day that teams with first-year coaches could begin their offseason workout program.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans have been canceled, and coach Bill O’Brien similarly expects the Houston Texans’ offseason workout program, which is scheduled for April 20, to be canceled.

“We’re going to miss that offseason program,” O’Brien told season ticket holders on a conference call on April 3. “It hasn’t been officially canceled yet, but I think it will be. We’re going to miss that.”

However, even though the program will be canceled, and Centers for Disease Control guidelines highly discouraging large gatherings, O’Brien is confident in the Texans’ players to keep themselves in shape while adhering to social distancing practices.

“We have a bunch of guys that are go-getters, that are able to work out on their own and get things done,” said O’Brien.

Nonetheless, at some point, if the offseason program is allowed to commence, the Texans will have to get up to speed working together as a cohesive unit.

[vertical-gallery id=47435]

Rams announce 2020 offseason program and minicamp dates

The Rams will be back for the offseason program on April 20.

Soon enough, the Los Angeles Rams will be back on the field in preparation of the 2020 season. On Wednesday, the team announced dates for the upcoming offseason workout program, which begins on April 20.

Mandatory minicamp will be held on June 15-18, which is when the majority of players, if not all of them, will be back in the fold. Here’s the full schedule, as laid out by the Rams.

  • Phase 1: April 20
  • Rookie minicamp: May 8-10
  • Phase 2: May 4
  • Phase 3: May 26
  • Mandatory minicamp: June 15-18

Players won’t hit the field in Phase 1 of the offseason program, but will instead be in the weight room and doing work in the classroom. In Phase 2, players will be on the field, but there will be no live contact.

Phase 3 consists of organized team activities, or OTAs, which will run for four weeks with 10 days of practice. Players are not required to attend any aspect of the offseason program until mandatory minicamp.

In recent years, Sean McVay has used rookie minicamp to try out other players rather than getting the incoming draft class on the field. It remains to be seen how minicamp will work this year.