Everything you need to know about NFL training camp protocols, rules, and issues

The first group of Giants players arrived for the first day of training camp on Thursday – a day usually filled with plenty of activity. But this time, shortly after they arrived, they were sent back to their homes and hotels.

That’s just one of the many ways training camp is going to look dramatically different this summer, thanks to the out-of-control COVID-19 pandemic that is gripping the country. As the NFL tries desperately to start and salvage its season – and somehow do it safely – the usual NFL training camps have been restructured to conform with a new reality.

Fans won’t see any of it, of course – there’ll be no public practices and probably no preseason games. So here’s a quick look at what’s new in what will likely be the strangest NFL summer anyone has ever seen.

And keep in mind, all of this is subject to change:

What can the players do when they arrive?

COVID-19 testing. For the moment, that’s the most important part of the NFL’s camp plan, because if they can’t test players accurately and quickly – or if players start to test positive at an alarming rate – the season will be in serious jeopardy.

So, for example, when the Giants’ rookies, quarterbacks and injured players arrived on Thursday, they reported to a trailer outside MetLife Stadium, took a COVID-19 test and then were sent back home or to a hotel. That was it. They will participate in virtual team meetings on Days 2 and 3 of camp (Friday and Saturday, in this case). Then on Day 4 (Sunday) they’ll return for another COVID-19 test.

For any players who tested negative twice, they’ll probably be allowed in their team’s facility on Day 5 for the start of a strength and conditioning and “ramp up” program (more on that later) – though they’ll only be allowed inside in small groups, no more than 20 players at a time. And I said “probably” because there remains a possibility that the NFL and NFLPA will put all training camps on hold later this weekend (more on that later, too).

Assuming camp goes on, the same testing ritual will hold for when the Jets’ first groups report (their arrival is still “on hold” according to the team) and again when both full teams are scheduled to report to camp on July 28.

After that, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to daily tests for the first two weeks, and then tests every other day if the positive rate is under 5 percent. They have also hired a private lab to conduct the tests and supposedly get the results back within 24 hours (even though it unfortunately takes much longer to get test results for everyone else).

Both sides seem to believe that will be enough to keep everyone on top of any viral spread.

And if someone tests positive?

An asymptomatic player (or person) who tests positive has to leave camp and can’t return to the facility for 10 days, unless they have two negative tests within a five-day period. If the player/person develops symptoms, they can’t return until 10 days after the onset of symptoms at the earliest, and 72 hours after the symptoms subside.

What about players who come in contact with someone who tests positive? 

Those players will be tested immediately and they won’t be allowed back in the facility until they have tested negative twice. To aide with contact tracing, players will wear “proximity devices” during camp so teams will be able to tell who has come in contact with whom.

When will the players get to practice? 

Currently the schedule looks like this: The Giants and Jets report in full on Tuesday, July 28. The first four days are testing and virtual meetings. Then, on Saturday, Aug. 1 and Sunday, Aug. 2, players will undergo physicals. The actual “camp” part of camp won’t begin until Monday, Aug. 3.

The NFL and NFLPA are still working on the details, but it looks like there’ll be nothing but strength and conditioning and some on-field walkthroughs through Day 18 (Friday, Aug. 14). Then, starting on Sunday, Aug. 16, teams will be allowed to begin the “ramp up” period with actual practices, but only in helmets and shells at first. Eventually they will be allowed to put on pads, but that may not happen until late August and possibly even September.

In other words, don’t expect to see anything resembling a football practice until mid-August, at least.

So, no preseason games?

No. The players don’t want any. The league wanted two, but eventually gave in, even though they haven’t made that official yet.

Will the media be allowed in to tell us what’s going on with the teams?

Yes. Those details are still being worked out too, but it looks like we’ll be allowed to watch (and get video) when the actual practices start. We’ll have no contact with players or coaches though, and all interviews will be virtual press conferences, so it’ll definitely be different than it has been in the past.

How many players will be in each camp?

The usual 90-man rosters are expected to be reduced to 80 – although that is also still the subject of negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA. There are a lot of bottom-of-the-roster players who were counting on a strong camp to make the team who’ll be hurt by that, and even more will be hurt by the lack of preseason games.

What if a player feels it’s too risky for them or a family member? Can they just not play this season?

There will be an “opt out” provision in the NFL-NFLPA agreement, where players can decide not to play in 2020. The details – such as what happens to their salary, their contract, their “accrued seasons”, etc. – are still being worked out.

Are there other financial concerns to this whole mess?

Oh my goodness, yes. Plenty. With the NFL expected to lose at least $3 billion in revenue this season with no fans allowed at games, there’s concern about how to mitigate what would be a disastrous drop for the 2021 salary cap.

The NFL wanted the players to share in the short-term pain by putting some of their salaries in escrow. That didn’t fly, so now they are pushing for a reduction in this year’s salary cap, which could cause some problems for players on teams that don’t have cap room. A bunch of veterans could have to reduce their salaries or get cut in that scenario. The players don’t like that, obviously, and prefer to spread the losses over future salary caps, perhaps all the way through 2030.

It is a mess – so much so that NFL Network reported that if they don’t agree by Sunday (when Chiefs and Texans rookies are scheduled to begin their strength and conditioning program) the league may put a “hold” on anything but virtual meetings until the financial details are worked out.

It’s also possible that they’ll just begin camp anyway and worry about the money problems later. The longer it goes, though, the more problematic it becomes as they try to battle money issues and a deadly virus, too.