NFL lawyer: Teams told training camp will start on time, preseason might be reduced

The NFL continues to plan for training camp to start on time. League general counsel Jeff Pash told the media on Thursday that teams have been advised training camp will open on schedule. Most teams are currently scheduled to open on July 28th. The Chiefs and Texans would open earlier due to their Thursday regular season opener, while the four Monday Night Football teams would open a day later.

Pash also said the owners are still negotiating with the union about the preseason schedule. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game was canceled on Thursday, and the owners and players are discussing a further reduction. Players have not had on-field workouts this offseason, so there is some talk of removing the first week or two of preseason games to provide a ramp-up period.

We are just over one month away from this scheduled start of training camp. It could very well happen, but the rise in Covid-19 cases could still create issues as late July approaches. And even if camp does start, we’ll then be on the watch for outbreaks of the virus as the players start spending time together with an inability to socially distance at times.