Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that NFL teams are likely to bring fewer than the regular 90 players to training camp this year as part of an effort to combat deal with the ongoing pandemic.
One source predicting teams will have 80 players in camp while another tells Schefter they think there will be 75. However, Schefter adds that no one he spoke to expects there to be a full 90-man roster this year.
Schefter also reports that there also are increasing questions from league sources about whether training camp can start on time with the number of coronavirus cases around the country spiking.
According to Schefter, the NFL also is considering expanding its practice squads to 16-20 players in the event of an outbreak.
This fits with a report from Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, who mentioned earlier that there are absolutely legs to the rumor that the NFL will reduce roster sizes from 90 down to 75 to alleviate crowding at team facilities.
The NFL is debating either having teams cut down to 75 before reporting for training camp, which would mean cutting players before they even get a chance to get in the building and practice, or allowing young players and rookies to report first in a mini tryout for a few days before cutting once the veterans arrive.
Pauline writes players who test positive for the virus will likely end up on the non-football injury list, but the NFL is looking to create an exclusive NFI list for tests.
Some issues the NFL is hashing out is how to pay players on the NFI list, with an across-the-board rate being discussed, and how to compensate players for the risk from workouts and travel during the pandemic.
We’ll have more regarding roster sizes for training camp as the news is available.
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