Coronavirus: NFL reportedly could shrink 2020 preseason schedule by half

According to a report from the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFL Players' Association are talking about potentially shortening the 2020 preseason because of all the coronavirus-related issues. The players would surely be all for this as the preseason is a waste of time these days for most starters. The owners love the current preseason setup because it's two extra home games where customers must pay for tickets, parking, concessions, etc. Except, there will be no fans in attendance this year.

Pelissero quotes team executive sources that the exhibition schedule is likely to be shortened from four games to two per club. With no offseason activities, the players around the league could use the extra time to get in shape, learn new schemes/coaches and the like.  Preseason NFL rosters allow for 90 players. Good luck social distancing in a locker room with 90 players.

"None of this has to do with when the regular season would begin. This is strictly about the preseason, having the testing protocols, the game day protocols, all up to speed," Pelissero said on NFL NOW. "Let's go back to 2011, coming out of the lockout, there was a rash of injuries league statistically of injuries, hamstrings, Achilles injuries, and guys just coming back in not the best of shape."

The 2020 preseason is scheduled to start Aug. 6 with the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio, between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. That likely would stay in place simply as it draws huge television ratings.

In addition, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that there is now a uniform training camp reporting date for all teams: 47 or 48 days before said team's Week 1 game. So, since the Texans and Chiefs are in the Kickoff Game on Sept. 10, they are required to report July 25.

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The other 30 would report on July 28: The 26 teams playing Sept. 13 would be reporting 47 days before their opener and the four playing Sept. 14 do so 48 days before that game. It used to be that the clubs playing in the Hall of Fame Game were allowed to report earlier than anyone else, but that apparently will no longer be the case.

One team a shortened preseason could affect most: The Chicago Bears. Matt Nagy hadn't been playing his starters much if at all the past two years but said he planned to get quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles plenty of work in the 2020 exhibition slate as they battle for the starting job. Foles remains the NFL betting favorite to win it. 

Any teams with completely new coaching staffs/starting quarterbacks (the Carolina Panthers for one) surely would prefer the full preseason slate as well. You can't replace game action -- there will be no joint practices due to the coronavirus. 

The NFL already was shortening the 2021 preseason from four games per team to three per team (not counting Hall of Fame Game) because a 17th game is being added to the regular season.

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