NFLPA tells players preseason games have been canceled

There will be no preseason games leading into the kickoff of the 2020 NFL season due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That was the news the NFLPA delivered to its players Tuesday along with some other information on their call.

Updates from NFLPA call with players tonight:

– No preseason games in 2020
– Union still pushing for longer ramp-up period in camp
– Roster sizes expected to be 80 to start camp
– General agreement on voluntary and high-risk opt-out
– General agreement on stipend if games lost

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 21, 2020

NFL.com reported:

The union said it has a general agreement with the league on voluntary and high-risk opt-out possibilities, and another general agreement on a compensatory stipend in the event games are lost due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The main economics still need to be hashed out between the two sides, and the details for the general agreements also need to be finalized, but the two sides have agreed on the concept.

This will ramp up the importance of practice for players looking to earn a spot on regular-season rosters. Coaching staffs will have to make decisions only on what they see and without any game action, which should make things extremely interesting and tense in camps.

The fans won’t miss attending preseason games since most skip the contests anyway. They are dominated by empty seats.