As the NFL gears up for training camp and its 2020 regular season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many players and team officials are concerned about the risks of playing during this health crisis. Now, one Houston Texans star is calling on the NFL to delay the upcoming season.
Justin Reid: It would be ‘beneficial’ to delay 2020 NFL season
Houston Texans safety Jordan Reid, who played at Stanford, opened up about his feelings regarding the risks players face by taking the field during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with The Houston Chronicle, the 23-year-old safety shared sentiment that seems to be felt by many across the league.
While a few NFL players are expected to opt-out of the 2020 season, when that choice is made available, many will take the field this year. However, while they are willing to play during a health crisis that is only getting worse, Reid believes the uncertainty many are feeling could be addressed by delaying the start of the season.
“I think it would be beneficial to delay the season two or three weeks, so that way we can answer a lot of questions that, us as players, people as far as fans and the coaching staff, have procedurally on how the season is going to happen,” Justin Reid said, via The Houston Chronicle. ““I think it would be beneficial to delay the season a couple of weeks. I think that will be good. I’m not confident that it will start on [time], but I am prepared because it is my job. I will be ready under the scenario if it does happen. . . I will be prepared for it.”
Importantly, Reid isn’t the only person in the NFL who is confident pushing back training camp and the regular season would help everyone. Multiple NFL teams have expressed a desire to push back the regular season, beginning the 2020 schedule in October.
NFL players can’t even report for training camp until the league and the players’ union agree on a plan regarding finances and player safety for the upcoming season. Fortunately, progress is being made.
As a result, the start of training camp is in jeopardy. While the NFL doesn’t want to delay it, given it could lead to regular-season games being pushed back, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is already open to the idea and the Miami Dolphins are preparing for a delayed start to camp.
It still seems likely that the 2020 NFL season will begin on Sept. 9 when the Houston Texans face the Kansas City Chiefs. If more players and teams call for the league to adjust the schedule and it makes a return safer for everyone, the NFL might ultimately need to do it.