The NFL and NFLPA agreed to extend daily COVID-19 testing for players and other Tier 1 and 2 individuals until further notice, with the exception of game day, according to a memo sent to clubs.
The "pregame" test will occur the morning before, i.e. Saturday before a Sunday game.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 5, 2020
The NFL had to spring into action when the COVID-19 pandemic changed the sports landscape in March. With limited time to prepare, the league and the NFL Players Association managed to create and roll out a plan that worked. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, as of Saturday morning, only six players remain on the league-wide COVID-19 list.
It was announced on Saturday that the health and safety protocols practiced during training camp will continue into the regular season until further notice.
The league and the NFLPA are in unison on extending daily COVID testing, except during game day, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Daily testing applies to Tier 1 and 2 individuals — including all players and coaches. Tier 3 individuals will continue to be tested weekly.
Pregame testing will take place the morning before (i.e., Saturday morning for Sunday games). Due to tests not being administered on game day, players will not be permitted at team facilities the day after a game unless medical attention is required or their team is on a short week.
A memo sent to teams on Saturday outlined testing requirements per category of individual.
The memo comes as the league is just five days away from kicking off its season.
Testing is not a subject to be taken lightly, and the league has examined protocols from every angle to ensure the safety of its players and staff.
“The reason that we’ve delayed on that is not procrastination. It’s that, as we’ve gone through our testing each week, we’ve learned some important lessons,” NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills told NFL Network this week. “We’ve tried to analyze our data and look and see what makes the most sense to balance getting everyone to game day safely and also the practical realities of travel.”
“We want to do everything we possibly can to mitigate any transmission of this virus within the team environment, and that includes on game day,” he said.
Though face masks are not required for players on the sidelines, it will be strongly recommended. The only states in which face coverings are necessary are in San Fransisco and Buffalo, where state and local governments mandate it.
While not required for players, Sills said that it’s essential for coaches and personnel to wear masks on the sidelines. “We continue to believe it’s perhaps the most critical element in reducing the risk of transmitting the virus from one person to another,” Sills said.
As travel introduces variables the league has not yet had to contend with, extensive protocols have been created that cover every aspect of travel from transportation to lodging. “We’ll be tracking that very carefully,” Sills shared. “If our teams attack [in-season protocols] with the same diligence and comprehensive approach they’ve done during training camp, I feel like we’ll be in good shape.”
So far, so good. Now comes the biggest test of all — 17 weeks of game action.
