The NFL preseason is roughly three months away. That doesn’t mean teams aren’t preparing now.
May marks the start of voluntary official team activities (OTAs) to help franchises prepare for the upcoming season and get recently-added players acclimated to their new surroundings. These low-impact practices are more of a table read for a sitcom script than a full dress rehearsal, generally serving as a way to unite a team rather than explore the depths of its playbook.
Some players will exercise the “voluntary” nature of these workouts and skip OTAs either for personal reasons or as part of a contract dispute. Missing early workouts isn’t a big deal on its own, but could set the stage for a protracted battle between a team and an unhappy star. Or it could just be a little extra rest for a veteran who knows the franchise inside and out.
These are the biggest names who are sitting out 2022 OTAs so far.