The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in the world in one way or another, but many are now attempting to get back to their normal lives. The NFL was lucky in the sense that their offseason lined up with when the coronavirus hit the United States, but with the 2020 season quickly approaching, one has to wonder if they will be affected much like every other sport has been. On Tuesday, the NFL made a travel decision in order to keep their players safe and healthy.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the league has told all 32 of its teams that they must stay at their team facilities for this summer's training camps. In addition to this, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that commissioner Roger Goodell also informed clubs that no joint practices would be permitted this year. Before Schefter's report, several beat reporters began leaking information that their respective teams would remain at their team headquarters instead of traveling -- such as CBS Sports' Patrik Walker. Instead of having training camp in Oxnard, California, the Dallas Cowboys will remain at headquarters in Frisco, Texas.
Not every team travels out of state for training camp, but several do. According to David Newton of ESPN, the Carolina Panthers will not be hosting training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina for the first time in team history dating back to 1995.
The NFL has been working on returning staff and players to their facilities as of late. Last week, Goodell released a memo to team presidents, general managers and head coaches about the next phase of reopening club facilities. The main takeaway from his message was that clubs next week are expected to be allowed to include members of their coaching staffs among the employees permitted to resume work in facilities. Employees allowed to return as of this week were ticket offices, retail shops and other customer-facing facilities as long as the operation of such facility fully complies with state and local regulation. Goodell also says that the league is in touch with states and cities that have not announced reopening plans yet as well as with the NFLPA on protocols.
