The NFL is charting a path to reopen team facilities amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the league has told teams to have a plan in motion by Friday.
In no way does this mean that players will return to team facilities here soon. In fact, the idea is to have personnel people and other employees on hand before players are actually able to work out with strict social distancing measures.
According to this note from Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, those around the league don’t believe players will be on hand at team facilities until training camp starts in July.
This makes perfect sense in that large-scale public gatherings are still banned in many states around the country. Individual workouts are one thing. Getting full teams together is a completely different thing.
As it relates to the NFL, they would like for all 32 teams to be able to open their facilities at the same time. Given the difference between states as it relates to COVID-19 policies, that complicates things further. California is a prime example of this.
The NFL released its schedule earlier in May. It is expecting the season to start on time on Sept. 10 with the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans. Though, contingencies are in place within said schedule.
Getting team facilities open would be the first of many steps needed in order for the 2020 NFL season to start on time. That’s for sure.