Tag: OTAs

Many Patriots players will not attend voluntary offseason workouts

Bill Belichick’s practice field might look a little empty.

The NFLPA announced on Twitter Wednesday that many members of the New England Patriots will not be participating in the voluntary training programs this offseason. This decision by the players is a result of the league’s perceived lack of a plan to safely bring the team back while the world is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

New England is not the only organization to have its players make a similar decision. The NFLPA announced that the Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions all have players who are opting not to participate in offseason workouts.

A normal offseason in the NFL brings nine weeks of work, including strength and conditioning and OTAs. However, due to COVID-19, last year’s offseason was held virtually over video conferencing programs. Training camp in July was the first time that players were allowed to report to facilities.

The NFLPA is pushing to have a similar schedule this offseason.

While it’s not exactly clear who the team will be missing this offseason, there will be some integral pieces of their roster who won’t be around Gillette Stadium unless they have to be.

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Colts players yet to decide on voluntary workouts

Colts are set to begin OTAs on April 19.

Though much of the focus this month has been on the upcoming 2021 NFL draft, a big mile-marker for the offseason in April is the start of voluntary workouts for every team, including the Indianapolis Colts.

However, due to a lack of safety protocols concerning COVID-19, several teams have already announced they won’t be participating in the voluntary workouts. Among those teams are the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

All three teams gave statements via the NFL Players Association on Tuesday.

The Colts are a team that typically gets almost every player to participate in the offseason workouts. Whether they are full participants or rehabbing injuries, the Colts have solid showings when it comes to optional work.

But they have yet to decide on what they want to do as a team for these voluntary workouts, especially with COVID-19 still impacting the league’s decisions and protocols.

The Colts had their share of run-ins with COVID-19 in 2020. They lost defensive linemen Denico Autry and DeForest Buckner for a game or two during the second half along with running back Jonathan Taylor, who was a close contact rather than testing positive for the virus.

Phase 1 of OTAs for the Colts is set to start on Monday, April 19. This part of the offseason workouts is simply strength and conditioning and rehab. They can’t get on the field until later in OTAs, but the Colts still typically get high attendance.

It should also be noted that there are no workout bonuses in any of the contracts for the Colts players, which would be an incentive for a certain player to show up for the voluntary workouts.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this situation as more teams are likely to give statements ahead of OTAs, but the Colts have yet to make their decision known to the public.

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Broncos rookies wrap up virtual offseason program

Broncos rookies have wrapped up their virtual offseason program.

Because of COVID-19, the Denver Broncos did not have in-person organized team activities or any minicamps this offseason. Instead, the Broncos had a virtual offseason program, hosting players for meetings and workouts online.

Last week, Denver’s veteran players wrapped up their portion of the offseason program. On Thursday, rookies completed their virtual offseason program, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Klis tweeted that players are tentatively set to report for training camp on July 28 but that date could be moved up or moved back, presumably based on the status of the coronavirus in Colorado.

Denver’s first preseason game is scheduled for Aug. 15, two and a half weeks after players report for training camp. The NFL is considering shortening the preseason but as of now, the Broncos’ schedule is set.

Denver is scheduled to face the Tennessee Titans on “Monday Night Football” on ESPN on Sept. 14, one month after the start of preseason.

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Quick recap of Broncos’ offseason highlights so far

It’s safe to say the Broncos had a pretty good offseason.

The Denver Broncos didn’t have official on-field organized team activities or a minicamp this spring because of COVID-19 but quarterback Drew Lock did organize some unofficial practices at a Denver area park.

Lock showed great leadership in organizing those practices which should help players transition into training camp smoothly.

The Broncos’ front office surrounded Lock with talent this offseason, drafting wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler after signing running back Melvin Gordon during free agency. Lock’s supporting cast will now include three Pro Bowlers, a promising tight end in Noah Fant and a revamped offensive line.

Denver made changes on defense, too.

Broncos general manager John Elway acquired cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive end Jurrell Casey through trades, adding them to a defense that ranked 10th in points allowed last season (19.8 per game).

Denver should be relatively healthy going into training camp. Third-year outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (ACL) hasn’t fully recovered yet but he’s making good progress and hasn’t had any setbacks. The big injury status to watch will be that of cornerback Bryce Callahan (foot).

If he’s healthy, Callahan might start across from Bouye as the team’s No. 2 cornerback (it’s uncertain if he will play on the outside or in the slot). Cornerback will be one of the team’s most intriguing positions to watch this offseason after the club lost Chris Harris during free agency.

The Broncos’ wide receiver battle will be another competition to watch as the team has 13 players fighting for six spots on the 53-man roster.

After going 7-9 last season (4-1 with Lock starting), Denver will aim to return to the playoffs this year for the first time since 2015. Broncos coach Vic Fangio will be entering his second year in charge and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will be entering his first season in Denver.

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Broncos veterans complete virtual offseason program

Broncos veterans have wrapped up their virtual offseason program.

Denver Broncos veterans wrapped up their virtual offseason program on Thursday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Because the Broncos will not have a minicamp this month, veterans now have off until reporting back to the team’s facility for the start of training camp on July 28.

Denver rookies still have another week of virtual meetings.

Broncos players have not had any on-field work with coaches this offseason because COVID-19 forced the NFL to move organized team activities and minicamps online. All NFL teams will have their virtual offseason programs wrapped up by the end of the month.

Denver’s first preseason game is scheduled for Aug. 15, two and a half weeks after players report for training camp. The NFL is considering shortening the preseason but as of now, the Broncos’ schedule is set.

Denver is scheduled to face the Tennessee Titans on “Monday Night Football” on ESPN on Sept. 14, one month after the start of preseason.

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Report: NFL considering limited-basis return for rookies before end of June

The NFL and NFLPA are working on a plan to let rookies and veterans in need of a physical return to team facilities on a limited basis.

The crop of 2020 rookies in the NFL was set to enter their first seasons in the league at a distinct disadvantage after being forced to miss out on rookie camps and OTAs due to the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down most of the sporting world. However, the NFL is now working on a way to at least get the rookies some distanced face time and familiarity with the team facilities ahead of training camp this summer.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA are working to allow this type of limited-basis return sometime before June 26.

There is no word on what time of activities would be able to take place for the rookies or veterans in need of a physical, but it’s at least easy to assume that Washington Redskins players like Chase Young, Antonio Gibson, and Antonio Gandy-Golden would love to get a feeling for their new homes. When you then look at players who are expected to be in a position battle right off the bat, like Saahdiq Charles or Thaddeus Moss, getting familiar with their surroundings so they can hit the ground running this summer, could be of great benefit.

As we learn more information about the possibility of a limited return, we will keep you updated.

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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.”

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7 Chiefs to watch if OTAs were beginning this week

If the Chiefs were beginning OTAs this week, these are the players we’d tell you to keep an eye on.

Organized team activities (OTAs) typically would be just around the corner for the Kansas City Chiefs and the rest of the NFL, but not this year. The COVID-19 pandemic still has players and coaches away from team facilities, so if OTAs happen, it’ll be at a later date.

OTAs mark the first point in the offseason where all of the Chiefs’ players, including rookies and veterans, would be on the field and working together. No live contact is permitted during OTAs, but the addition of 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills advances the offseason program significantly. We’d also be getting an early idea of how the depth chart would look like in Kansas City for the 2020 season.

The Chiefs, of course, have the luxury of returning 20-of-22 starters from their Super Bowl-winning squad. They’ll still need help from every player if they’re to run it back during the 2020 NFL season.

Obviously, there aren’t any OTAs happening this week, but if there were, these are the players that we’d be keeping an eye on.

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

OL Martinas Rankin

Acquired from the Houston Texans in a trade for RB Carlos Hyde ahead of the start of the 2019 season, Rankin is a player that should be squarely in the mix to start at the left guard position for Kansas City. He started five games for the Chiefs before suffering a knee injury that knocked him out for the remainder of the year. Depending on where Rankin is in his recovery, he’ll be someone to watch as a potential starter in 2020.

Rankin won’t be unchallenged, however. He’ll face fierce competition from former starting LG Andrew Wylie. Don’t count out rookie players like draft pick Lucas Niang and undrafted free agent Yasir Durant.

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Broncos safety Kareem Jackson says virtual meetings have been ‘very productive’

The Broncos’ virtual offseason program has worked well so far.

With NFL facilities closed down due to COVID-19, the Broncos — and every other team — have turned to online meetings and video workouts in the place of in-person offseason programs.

Denver’s virtual meetings have gone so well that safety Kareem Jackson suggested the team should use them every offseason.

“I usually get up at about 6:15,” Jackson said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on Tuesday. “I work out at about 7:15-7:30. I’m usually back home in enough time to jump on meetings. I think the virtual meetings have been going pretty good. We’ve been able to get things done as if we were in meetings.

“I actually told the coaches, I said I think for the first two phases of OTAs we should do this that way everybody can stay home and do whatever we need to do. Then come in and we just practice in Phase 3 and minicamp. It’s been going pretty good. I think it’s been very productive for us.”

Jackson has been working out one-on-one with a trainer in Houston so he’ll be ready to go whenever teams are allowed to open their facilities again. The Broncos remain hopeful that training camp will start on time in July.

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Broncos schedule virtual offseason program; status of NFL training camps remains uncertain

It remains unclear if the NFL will be able to start training camps on time this summer.

The NFL has closed team facilities in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19. That means in-person offseason activities won’t happen this spring.

Teams are permitted to conduct virtual offseason programs and the Broncos have scheduled “virtual meeting and classroom work” to begin on April 27, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Denver will be allowed up to four hours of virtual work per day for up to four days a week during Phase I of the offseason program, which is three weeks long. Phase II will start in mid-May and run through late June.

After that, the NFL’s offseason schedule remains uncertain.

In a usual offseason, teams begin training camp in mid-to-late July. On Tuesday, NFLPA executive director De Smith said it is “impossible to answer” if training camps will be able to start on time this year.

In the early stages of the offseason, teams can conduct online meetings and even online workout sessions without too much trouble. There’s no replacement for training camp practices, though.

If the Broncos — and every other team — aren’t able to start camp on time, it’s hard to imagine the NFL being able to start the season on time.

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