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Saturday, July 18th is when rookies for the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs are expected to report their respective training camps. Life is coming at professional football very fast.
As of this posting, the NFL and NFLPA are still discussing COVID-19 testing procedures and the fate of the preseason, which is set to take place next month. The NFLPA, however, was told by NFL doctors that it is safe for training camps to begin on time.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith says on a media call that union officials had a call last night with team doctors, who gave the opinion "with a couple reservations" that it is safe to open training camp.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 17, 2020
On Thursday, The NFLPA posted a heat map detailing the prevalence of COVID-19 in each NFL market. Such information is critical since the league is not implement a bubble like the NBA and MLS did.
The NFLPA has released a heat map of COVID-19 in all 32 NFL markets. pic.twitter.com/K6uM0FGxBr
— Allan Bell (@AllanBell247) July 16, 2020
Since players will not be isolated all together, the data for each city and surrounding area is important in terms of identifying which teams may experience problems with potential outbreaks among team members. But with a sign of approval from league doctors, it makes a delay for the start of camp unlikely.
The danger of the virus is far from expired, but the NFL is still trending in the direction of things starting on time.