The National Football League and the players’ union are still trying to come to terms on the exact protocols teams will have to adhere to in order to reopen their facilities on the heels of the coronavirus pandemic that is still sweeping the nation.
While coaching staff are now permitted in the buildings, the two sides have yet to agree on when exactly the players will be able to return.
As a result of an offseason with no OTAs or camps, one option to speed along the return of football this year is to do away with a couple of this summer’s exhibition games.
“The NFL and NFLPA are discussing the possibility of shortening the 2020 preseason, per sources,” NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweeted Wednesday morning. “Nothing finalized or imminent, but multiple team executives informed of talks currently believe they could end up playing two preseason games, rather than four.”
Pelissero also noted that shortening the preseason would allow for a longer “ramp-up” period and provide extra time for medical experts to finalize game-day protocols for testing, and the like.
This story is continuing to develop.
