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With the recent surge of COVID-19 cases, the NFL has a lot to consider with how to proceed with its 2020 season.
For now, the league is still planning to have training camps start on time in July, according to NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash.
NFL executive Jeff Pash says clubs have been advised that training camps are expected to open on the normal schedule, with dates set forth in the CBA. That’s July 28, though rookies and selected players can show up earlier.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 25, 2020
It would be great for teams like the Bengals to have their rookies and new players report earlier, especially No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, who has been limited to only virtual offseason work thus far.
In addition, NFL medical director Allen Sills said the league is still working on a testing program for the virus that has yet to be finalized.
NFL medical director Dr. Sills: "We're setting up a very ambitious testing program. ... Testing alone will not be sufficient to keep everyone healthy."
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) June 25, 2020
There were previous reports of the league looking into having camps begin in mid-July, but that was before the recent surge of COVID-19 cases across America, which just had its worst recorded day of cases on Wednesday.
Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like a foregone conclusion the NFL would have a normal 2020 regular season schedule — with a condensed preseason — but the virus’ recent rise has muddied the waters enough to wonder if we’ll see delays in the 2020 season.
Then you’ve got the potential of players not wanting to report to their respective teams in fear of getting the virus and spreading into friends and family. We’re starting to see that in the NBA with players declining to take part in the league’s restarted season in July. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio touched on that subject.