The NFL and NFLPA still have not come to an agreement on economic and safety proposals related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that isn’t stopping the players union from instructing players to report for training camp, per Master Tesfatsion of Bleacher Report.
As noted by Tesfatsion, the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans have ordered their rookies and quarterbacks to report to training camp on Monday, July 20.
Here’s more on what they will see when they arrive:
NFL and NFLPA are not in lockstep about COVID-19 health and safety protocols
As of Friday, July 17th, the two sides were far apart on health and safety protocols. Players have expressed extreme frustration about a lack of answers to some very important questions, which Houston Texans star J.J. Watt laid out in detail on Thursday.
Other players have taken to Twitter with clear indications that they have more questions than answers, just days ahead of camp opening up.
The NFL, meanwhile, has maintained via team doctors that it is safe for players to report to training camp, “with a couple reservations.”
This determination includes states like California, Texas and Florida, which are currently among the world’s worst-affected areas for the spread of COVID-19.
Will the NFL season go on as planned?
Despite the NFL moving forward with training camps, there is some doubt brewing that the season will be able to go on as planned. Many coaches and general managers have expressed reservations with the NFL’s COVID-19 response. One coach said “all the players are going to get sick.”
Others have indicated they don’t believe the season will at least have to be delayed due to the current outbreak.
Despite all this, the NFL is pushing full steam ahead for the season to open up as planned with the first game taking place in Kansas City on Sept. 10.