The NFL Players Association told players on a conference call Tuesday night that there will be no preseason games, according to multiple reports.
Also, team training camp roster sizes will be trimmed from 90 to 80 players when camps open, Sports Illustrated reported.
Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network both confirmed that the preseason will be scrapped. The NFL had made the offer to the union Monday night, ESPN reported.
Neither the NFL nor the NFLPA has confirmed the reports.
Updates from NFLPA call with players tonight:
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 21, 2020
- No preseason games in 2020
- Union still pushing for longer ramp-up period in camp
- Roster sizes expected to be 80 to start camp
- General agreement on voluntary and high-risk opt-out
- General agreement on stipend if games lost
NFLPA leadership told players on a conference call a few minutes ago there will be zero preseason games this year, sources say. Not a surprise given the league offered that but now all but official, according to the union.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 21, 2020
On Monday, the NFL offered to eliminate its preseason entirely while agreeing with its players’ union on a COVID-19 testing program for players, The Washington Post reported.
A report earlier Monday indicated the NFL had reduced the number of preseason games it wanted to one, which would have happened the third week of the exhibition season. NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk reported.
Earlier this month, the league and union agreed to trim the preseason from four games to two.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said that eliminating the preseason allows the NFL “to follow a schedule recommended by a joint committee.”
“That schedule calls for three weeks of strength and conditioning work, 10 days of non-padded practice and 10 days of padded practice over the final two weeks,” Florio said.
The NFL’s 2020 regular season is scheduled to start Sept. 10 at Kansas City, with a full slate of games set for Sept. 13, The New York Times reported. The league has not ruled out having fans in attendance for the games, but sellouts are unlikely because of the pandemic, the newspaper reported.
The NFL has had four preseason games since it was shortened from six games in 1978.
Rookies across NFL reported to training camps Tuesday. Quarterbacks and injured players are expected to report Thursday, while veterans are set to report July 28.
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