The NFL and the NFL Players Association have each approved adjustment plans to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, so both sides are moving full-steam ahead into training camp.
That extends to the New Orleans Saints. The Saints will test rookie players (on Monday, July 27) and veterans (on Tuesday, July 28) for infections in the days ahead, which was reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill and confirmed by Nola.com’s Amie Just. Players must receive two negative test results before they will be admitted to the team practice facility, per new NFL rules.
It’s the next hurdle between now and the start of Saints training camp, which was originally scheduled to kick off on July 28. But the pandemic has again changed the NFL’s offseason calendar, including the cancellation of 2020 preseason games. Teams will spend the next several weeks putting players through strength and conditioning programs while preparing for training camp, which likely won’t resemble its old self until mid-August.
So prepare now for more of the same, strange offseason we’ve seen so far. With coronavirus cases still surging around the country, the NFL won’t settle into its usual rhythm for quite some time. At least every day takes us one step closer to the season-opener between the Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 13.
