FORT WORTH, Texas _ With California Gov. Gavin Newsom saying on Monday that sports in his state may return by June without fans, it may all be moot now.
But is there a chance the Dallas Cowboys second preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers the week of Aug. 12 and the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13 _ both to be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles _ could be moved to AT&T Stadium in Arlington due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in Los Angeles County being extended into August?
It's not in the plans at this time, according to the NFL.
"We are preparing to play the 2020 NFL preseason and regular season as scheduled and with increased protocols and safety measures for all players, personnel and attendees," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.
But as has been the case throughout the coronavirus pandemic, plans could change. The NFL will be ready to adjust, if necessary, just as it has during this offseason with the shutdown of team facilities, the virtual offseason program and the draft.
"We will continue to make decisions based on the latest advice of medical and public health officials, as well as in full compliance with current and future government regulations," McCarthy said. "Our primary focus will be on protecting the health of our fans, players, club and league personnel and our communities."
What we know now is the NFL is reopening some facilities, if allowed in the respective states, and commencing toward an uninterrupted season.
After their Infection Control Officers completed an NFL-mandated training course, the Cowboys are among the teams that reopened their headquarters at The Star in Frisco on Tuesday, albeit under strict guidelines.
No more than 75 team employees are permitted inside facilities at any given time. Coaches are barred from entering team facilities until further notice, as are all players, except for those in need of medical treatment or rehab.
Teams are required to report any confirmed cases of COVID-19 to the league office.
"This first phase of reopening is an important step in demonstrating our ability to operate safely and effectively, even in the current environment," Goodell said in a memo. "After we implement this first phase and as more states and localities enact policies that allow more club facilities to reopen, I expect that additional staff, likely including coaching staff, will be allowed to return to club facilities in a relatively short time."
The NFL is anticipating players and coaches being allowed back at the facilities early next month. That plan took a step closer to reality on Monday with Newsom giving the green light for sports to return in California by the first week of June.
This also makes it possible for the Cowboys to hold training in Oxnard, Calif., as planned, though a final decision has yet to be made. But it also makes it more unlikely that the Cowboys will get an extra home game in the preseason and the regular season.
