Tag: OTAs

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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NFL suspends OTAs, free agency guidelines changed

The NFL has suspended OTAs am changed the guidelines of free agency.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected the everyday working man but now, it’s spilled over into the NFL. In an attempt to put the well-being of the players, coaches, and staff members first, the league has adjusted it’s a normal routine for offseason plans.

Over the weekend, the league announced April’s amateur draft would still happen on time, but that the in-person fan experience was to be cancelled. Monday, the NFL and NFLPA laid out specific guidelines regarding protocol for the foreseeable future in a joint statement.

Free Agency

Free agency will begin on Wednesday at 4 pm ET where teams and players can finalize contracts, however, there’s a twist. Teams are prohibited from bringing any free agent, even their own, to their facility or any other location to meet with club personnel.

Club personnel, including members of the medical staff, are not allowed to travel to any location to meet with a free agent. These restrictions will remain until further notice.

Off-Season Team Activities (OTAs)

OTAs have been indefinitely suspended by the NFL. The league and the NFLPA will continue to monitor the situation going forward and will follow the guidance of medical and public health professionals, including respective medical advisors to determine a date in which these activities can begin.

During this period, the league and its union will work with its medical consultants to develop guidelines regarding facility and cleaning maintenance, equipment preparation, and steps to identify players at elevated risk for the coronavirus and other preventative measures.

Club Facilities

The NFL is prohibiting any player from coming to any team facility for a period of two weeks (March 17-March 31). However, this does not apply to players currently under contract receiving medical treatment by the team’s medical/athletic training staff.

In the days/weeks to come, more details in regards to these restrictions and guidelines will come out as it pertains to the NFL’s handling of this situation going forward.

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NFL delays offseason activities indefinitely due to coronavirus threat

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to indefinitely delay a number of 2020 offseason activities in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

While the National Football League has elected to go forward with free agency and the start of the new league year, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to suspend a number of activities in wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Below is the opening of the official press release, announcing offseason activities will be delayed indefinitely and access to club facilities will be restricted for the near future to ensure player and staff safety.

“The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today announced that, following discussions with NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and consultations between the medical teams for the NFL and NFLPA, and based on coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance from public health officials, NFL clubs will delay indefinitely the start of their off-season programs.  In addition, special procedures will be in place for the start of the new League Year until further notice.”

The first phase of organized team activities (OTAs) was set to kick off on April 6 for teams with new head coaches and April 20 for all other clubs.

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NFL postpones off-season training activities “indefinitely” in memo sent to teams

NFL postpones off-season training activities indefinitely

Business is booming in the NFL as free agency and the legal tampering period for the new league year is upon.

Even with the excitement of player transactions and guys switching teams, there are still precautions and steps that need to be taken by NFL teams and personnel amid the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Adam Schefter is reporting that the league has implemented policies that include free-agent signees visiting a team’s facility or vice versa for the time being.

Players are currently banned from entering any NFL team facilities between March 17 through March 31.

Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb (ACL) will be sidelined during OTAs

Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (ACL) won’t be healthy in time for OTAs but he should return in time for training camp.

The Broncos expect to have right tackle Ja’Wuan James (knee) available for the start of organized team activities but outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (ACL) won’t be fully healthy in time for OTAs.

Speaking at the NFL combine last week, Denver coach Vic Fangio said that Chubb “won’t participate in any offseason football activities,” according to NFL Network’s James Palmer. Chubb will be sidelined from drills until training camp, which is expected to begin in mid- to late July.

Chubb (6-4, 275 pounds) was selected by the Broncos with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. After recording 12 sacks, he was named to the PFWA’s All-Rookie Team and earned Pro Bowl alternate honors in 2018.

Last season, Chubb totaled 21 tackles and one sack in four games before his season was cut short by a partially torn ACL. He is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2020 season.

Once healthy, Chubb will reclaim his starting job at outside linebacker.

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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.

Bears announce key dates for 2020 offseason

Here are a list of key dates for the Bears’ offseason, including two minicamps, 10 OTA practices and press conferences.

The Bears offseason has just started, and there’s plenty on the horizon for a team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2019 season.

While we already knew the dates of the NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Draft, the Bears released some new key dates, which include offseason workout dates and Ryan Pace/Matt Nagy press conferences.

Here are a list of key dates for the Bears’ offseason, which includes dates for Bears rookie minicamp, 10 OTA practices and mandatory full-squad minicamp.

February 2020

  • Feb. 24-March 1 – NFL Scouting Combine
  • Feb. 25 – Ryan Pace/Matt Nagy meet with media at NFL Combine

March 2020

  • Feb. 24 – March 1 – NFL Scouting Combine
  • March 18 – Free agency and new league year begins

April 2020

  • April 7 – Ed Block Courage Award presentation
  • April 20 – Bears may begin offseason workout programs
  • April 21 – Brian Piccolo Awards presented to rookie and veteran
  • April 21 – Ryan Pace will speak with the media ahead of NFL Draft
  • April 23-25 – 2020 NFL Draft in Las Vegas

May 2020

  • May 8-10 – Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall
  • May 16 – Bears Care Gala at Soldier Field
  • May 27 – May 29 – OTA practices

June 2020

  • June 2-4 – OTA practices
  • June 8 – 11 – OTA practices
  • June 16-18 – Mandatory full-squad minicamp

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