The NFL will cancel the first and fourth preseason games to reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading and give players extra time to get in shape before facing live action, ESPN reported. The schedule change has long been rumored.
Players apparently weren’t immediately informed.
“We find out everything NFL related via twitter smh,” Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson tweeted. “I guess it’s 2 preseason games lol.”
This is the first significant interruption to the NFL’s calendar, which had essentially remained intact throughout the offseason despite the pandemic.
The Bears were scheduled to open the preseason at home against the Browns on Aug. 15 and close Sept. 3 at the Titans. With those games canceled, their preseason will be limited to Aug. 22 at the Broncos and a home game against the 49ers on Aug. 29.
The team originally had an agreement with the Broncos to hold joint practices in Colorado the week of their preseason game, but the NFL banned that for this year.
The league has yet to announce any changes to the regular-season schedule, which is set to begin Sept. 10 with the Chiefs and Texans playing in Kansas City. The Bears will open at the Lions on Sept. 13.
With the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the preseason will be cut to three games next season when the NFL begins playing 17-game regular seasons.
