NFL teams may have some tentative clarity on when they can report to training camp, but could see their preseason reduced before the upcoming 2020 season.
The Miami Dolphins will be among 30 teams scheduled to begin training camp on July 28, according to a Wednesday report by ESPN.
So, the Dolphins have an idea when their quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen, among other preseason items on the team's agenda, could begin before the season.
But the key word here is tentative.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association are in ongoing discussions about several items with concerns to the coronavirus pandemic like delaying the start of training camps, player workloads before the season and reducing the preseason schedule.
The league is considering reducing the preseason from four games to two this year, according to a report by NFL Network.
Shortening the preseason would allow for a longer period for teams to train together before the season, regardless of whether players agree to report a week or two earlier.
The canceled preseason games could also provide extra time for medical experts to finalize game-day protocols for coronavirus testing, according to the report.
The Dolphins are scheduled to open the preseason on the road against the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 14. Both teams were in talks to hold joint practices before the game, but the NFL has restricted teams from doing so this preseason.
Miami is also scheduled to host the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 20 and the Detroit Lions on Aug. 27 at Hard Rock Stadium, before ending the preseason in New Orleans against the Saints on Sept. 3.
If the preseason is shortened, teams could likely play one home and away preseason game that's already scheduled.
The Dolphins' 2020 season opener is scheduled for Sept. 13 on the road against the New England Patriots.
The Dolphins' home opener is on Sept. 20 against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium.
In years past, NFL teams would stagger their training camp start dates over the course of a week, usually 15 days before their preseason opener. The new date _ which was agreed to by teams during collective bargaining in March, according to the report _ offers uniformity for most teams.
In this scenario, the Dolphins will report 18 days before their scheduled preseason opener.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, who are scheduled to kick off the season on Sept. 10, will report to camp three days earlier than the other 30 NFL teams on July 25.
