Over the past 48 hours numerous athletes across the sports landscape have tested positive for COVID-19, and this has had a ripple effect with each league. For Major League Baseball, training facilities were shut down for deep cleaning. The NHL has had players in isolation after testing positive. And the NFL recently has had a rash of players who tested positive for the coronavirus.
While MLB, NBA and the NHL are looking to get back to game play, the NFL is in their offseason. Players are not permitted in team facilities right now, but there is nothing stopping from players getting together and training during the pandemic.
Most recently, a group of 49ers, including quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, trained in Nashville and were exposed to the virus. They were told to stay in Tennessee until test results come back. Several teams reportedly have had players test positive, but not many names have been identified out of personal privacy of the player.
In the wake of this news, the NFLPA, and medical director Dr. Thom Mayer, released a statement urging players to not participate in group workouts during this time.
A message to players from NFLPA Medical Director, Dr. Thom Mayer: pic.twitter.com/4IGlEBhRr9
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) June 20, 2020
In the memo, Mayer writes, "no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts." Mayer goes on to say, "it is in the best interest of all players that we advise against any voluntary joint practices before training camp commences."
The NFLPA has released the warning, but will players heed it? That is a completely different discussion.
With no minicamps or Organized Team Activities (OTAs), players have felt the need to work on their craft to prepare for the upcoming 2020 season. Several members of the Steelers have worked out together during this pandemic, and those players include Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Switzer, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner. Diontae Johnson, Steven Nelson and Eric Ebron have also been in group workouts via their social media accounts.
The latest wave of COVID-19 has parts of society on edge, and the sports world is no different. The NFL has some work to do before they announce the official re-opening procedures and dates for training camp. Be sure to stay tuned to DKPittsburghSports.com for the latest news on the NFL's return.
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