Report: NFL and NFLPA discuss shortening the 2020 preseason

Due to Covid-19, NFL players haven’t been able to have organized training this offseason. To help combat that lack of work, the NFL and NFLPA have discussed cutting two preseason games to allow for a longer training camp, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Besides the extra time for practice, cutting preseason games would give health experts a little more time to finalize game day protocols at each stadium. according to Pelissero. We still don’t know if fans will be allowed in stadiums to start the season, but some states, like Texas, have given their blessing to crowds at half capacity.

The new collective bargaining agreement does have some new rules for training camp. “Teams used to be required to report to training camp 15 days before their preseason opener, 30 NFL teams now must report July 28, which is 47 or 48 days before the kickoff of the Week 1 regular-season opener,” per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. But, those dates aren’t set in stone this season due to Covid-19. There is still a chance they open training camp early to get players more work, but that would need to be negotiated with the players’ union.