All 32 National Football League teams should be ready to start training camp on time, the league said Thursday.
On a conference call, NFL Executive Vice-President and general counsel Jeff Pash stated that teams, including the Detroit Lions, should prepare to start camp on July 28 as scheduled, with rookies and selected players being allowed to report sooner.
According to NFL.com, the league held an online meeting with team owners which not only addressed training camp but also planning for the 2020 season in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace diversity, and social justice initiatives.
Commissioner Roger Goddell said teams should be ready to engage with fans, both on the teams' home fields and through each team's media partners.
Talks are ongoing with the NFL Players Association to nail down details. The league has also been working on an extensive policy for when players return to their facilities. A wide-ranging COVID-19 testing program is in the works, but physical distancing guidelines are also being worked out.
The NFL preseason typically begins in mid-August with each team playing four exhibition games. The regular season is scheduled to begin the weekend of September 13.
