In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Football League has now extended the virtual offseason for an additional two weeks. Scheduled to originally expire on May 15, the virtual offseason may now continue through May 29.
All NFL training facilities will remain closed per the league until specific protocols can be followed and each club’s state governor has allowed a reopening which would permit teams to resume in-person practice. For now, teams will continue their training remotely.
The mandate was laid out by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a memo sent to all 32 clubs. Those who had not included virtual workouts in their programs can now do so “provided players are given adequate notice to prepare for participation in the workouts.”
As of now, all offseason workout programs must conclude by June 26. However, there is a provision in place in should reopenings begin in the near future.
“In the event Club facilities reopen at some point in June, under protocols established by the League in consultation with our medical advisors, the remaining on-field portion of the program will be determined in consultation with the Joint Committee and will be promulgated to Clubs at the earliest possible date,” the memo noted.
This story is continuing to develop.
