NFL Has Floated Idea Of Opening Training Camps In Mid-July

Albert Breer of SI.com reports that the NFL has floated the idea of teams reporting to training camp earlier this summer and closer to the middle of July in order to give players a better shot at getting up to speed and prepared for the 2020 season. 

According to Breer, the joint committee on health and safety is recommending an acclimation period before camp, considering the lack of football activity players have had this offseason in comparison to years past. 

The new CBA agreement has a five-year acclimation period included, but Breer says players may still need more time under the current circumstance, which is why a mid-July reporting period has come up. 

Teams are allowed to report 47 days before their first regular season game, which would be July 28. However, it sounds like this could be moved up by a few weeks. 

Last week, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the NFL is “optimistic” about holding training camps in full but is still preparing alternatives in case they’re needed.

According to Fowler, team officials he’s spoken to are “cautiously optimistic” and wouldn’t be surprised to see some dates moved around or even shorten the preseason. 

Teams are opening their facilities and some coaches have already returned to work. It remains to be seen when players will be allowed to be at facilities, but we should have a better idea in the coming weeks. 

We’ll have more regarding the NFL’s plans as the news is available.