The Bears will report to training camp slightly later than last year, limiting the amount of practice time leading up to the 2020 season. The NFL and the players’ union agreed to a July 28 report date today, NFL Network reported.
That likely applies to all teams except for the Cowboys and Steelers, who are in the Hall of Fame game and start the preseason a week earlier than the rest of the league. The Texans and Chiefs could start earlier, too, since they open on Sept. 10. The rest of the league starts the season Sept. 13 or 14.
The Bears reported July 25 last year in Bourbonnais. They announced in January they will be holding training camp exclusively at Halas Hall for the foreseeable future.
With precautionary procedures in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it’s likely training camp will begin more gradually than in the past.
There have been multiple reports that the NFL is considering shortening the preseason this season, and the combination of a later start and a slower ramp-up period puts the Bears’ Aug. 15 home game against the Browns in question.
The league and the NFLPA have not finalized health-related protocols, including compliance with social distancing guidelines and coronavirus testing.
