Buffalo Bills star wide receiver Stefon Diggs took to Twitter Tuesday to express discomfort at the idea of playing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a series of tweets, Diggs shared his point of view about the coming season.
Other NFL players are worried about playing during the coronavirus pandemic
Diggs isn’t the only prominent star who has expressed uncertainty and concern about trying to play this season.
- Ezekiel Elliott, who tested positive for COVID-19, recently said there were questions that had to be answered about the health and safety of players before he would feel comfortable playing.
- Malcolm Jenkins, a tenured veteran and respected player around the league, said he doesn’t feel comfortable playing the 2020 season until the risk is “eliminated.”
- Kareem Jackson, who tested positive for COVID-19, was already wary about playing before he was infected.
Clearly, there is a growing sentiment of unease about trying to pull off the 2020 NFL season as the pandemic accelerates nationally, and around the globe.
NFLPA and NFL appear headed toward a labor war over 2020 season
On Tuesday, NFLPA president J.C. Tretter issued a strongly worded statement in which he accused the NFL of not taking player health and safety seriously enough.
The players have asked the league to abandon preseason games altogether as well, along with doing all team meetings virtually during training camp, which they have requested would last 48 days.
Additionally, the NFL reportedly has, among other ideas, thought about holding 35% of player salaries this coming season to offset revenue losses that are expected this season.
That idea went over about as well as you’d expect.
On top of all this, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians is on record saying he thinks “all the players” will get sick to some degree this season playing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Needless to say, it’s not surprising that Diggs, and others, are wary.