NFL Plans To Assign Forfeits For COVID-19 Outbreaks If Games Cannot Be Rescheduled

Per Tom Pelissero, the NFL has informed teams that it will assign forfeits to teams if there is an outbreak of COVID-19 and a game cannot be rescheduled. 

The memo goes on to state that the league does not plan to add an additional week onto the end of the season to accommodate games that need to be rescheduled. 

Like last year, the memo adds the league won’t move games simply because a COVID-19 outbreak causes roster issues, like it notably did for the Broncos at quarterback one week. 

If a game cannot be rescheduled after an outbreak within the allotted 18-week season, the league says the burden of cancellation and delay will fall on the team experiencing the infection. 

The infected team will forfeit and be credited with a loss in the standings, while the other team will be credited with a win.

The infected team will also be responsible for expenses for the other team caused by the cancellation and to the league VTS pool, in addition to other potential discipline from the NFL commissioner. 

No one on either team would receive game checks for a forfeited contest. 

Other matters mentioned in the memo involve vaccinated individuals who test positive. They will be allowed to return to the team with two negative tests 24 hours apart. Unvaccinated individuals will still have a mandatory 10-day quarantine. 

We’ll have more on the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols for 2021 as the news is available.