UPDATE: 4:56 pm Arrowhead time
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport aired a note describing COVID testing for the NFL.
With the tests now due 72 hours apart, the timeline Reid outlined on Monday morning (below) is delayed two days as the Chiefs rookies would receive their next test on Thursday.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid took time to detail the opening of training camp during Chris Jones’ contract extension Zoom conference call Monday morning.
Monday marked the day of the report for the Chiefs rookies in Kansas City.
“(Head Athletics Coach) Rick Burkholder and (the team’s chief operating officer) Mitch Reynolds have done a phenomenal job setting everything up to try to be COVID safe and to the best of our ability,” Reid explained. “That’s where we started. We start with a couple of days of testing for the players. They run back-to-back tests, and from there, they’ll work their physique, get their gear, and then head to Ted (Crews) (vice president of communications) and fulfill any media obligations they potentially have. And there are a couple of days for that. “
Reid said these steps would take the rookies until Thursday, when the players could begin to lift and potentially have a tour of the team. As of this writing, the NFLPA and NFL are still working on the final details of what the preseason will look like (we cover that here). But Reid gave the impression that the Chiefs will be ready when the time comes.
“When you see the setup, if you have a chance to do it, it’s great,” said Reid. “We are going to do everything outside the stadium.”
Arrowhead Stadium offers the Chiefs much more space than practice facilities.
“The way they set it up, we could have a lot of social distance from people, more than we’ve had with our soccer team, and they have,” added Reid. “They have everything configured with monitors and everything else. Each media room is configured. They’ve divided Arrowhead Stadium in half, so defense is on one side, offense is on the other side. It really was something to see from there. And then the tests, guys: They are going to be evaluated often, so it will be good that way. “
Reid said that when the Chiefs are not on the field in practice, they will maintain their social distance, cover their faces and wash their hands.
It is not known at this time when the team will be able to carry out what could be considered normal practice, but Reid confirmed that it would be at least 10 days.
“I think they will have another part of an acceleration that will last a little over a week, where they could put these padded shirts that they have now, that’s part of the new CBA.” You somehow get into the new CBA rules, except it will be extended a bit. So that’s what we know right now. It seems like a pretty solid plan to allow the boys to grow up and get to where they need to be. I think these guys have been working, working the change of direction and the restriction with the gangs … jerks and jerks and all that. Therefore, they will remain as injury free as they can when entering the camp. But then again, we’ll give you a nice raise, too.
