The Baltimore Ravens joined most of the NFL in re-opening their doors on Tuesday. After initially closing their training facility and having staff work remotely in March, Baltimore’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills is in the beginning stages of re-opening.
The Ravens got the go-ahead from Governor Larry Hogan to open their training facility and M&T Bank Stadium in accordance with the first phase of the NFL’s return policy.
Under the NFL’s rules, coaches are still not allowed to return, as are any players not currently rehabilitating an injury. Baltimore, like the rest of the league, is also limited to no more than 75 staff members in the building at a time. The Ravens will bring back staff from the equipment crew, football video, and personnel department, according to Ryan Mink of the team’s website.
There’s hope the NFL will allow coaches to return as early as next week, according to Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson, though nothing has been confirmed by the league or the NFLPA. However, any further strides in re-opening facilities could mark the start of football returning somewhat to normal in time for minicamps and training camp. Ravens president Dick Cass had previously said he thought the league would be prepared to open back up in time for training camp, with enough testing and regulations in place to keep everyone safe.
“We believe by the time of training camp, we’ll be able to test players and coaches, and those who meet together a lot, multiple times a week and be able to get results fairly quickly,” Cass said on “The Lounge” podcast.
“If the infection rate is really low, as I expect it will be by late summer, and we have adequate testing, and people are careful when they leave the building, I think there’s a really good shot that we’ll be OK.”
