Along with the rest of the league, the Kansas City Chiefs have faced many challenges in training camp planning during the current coronavirus pandemic, making it even more difficult for the Chiefs because they (along with the Houston Texans) were starting their training camp program three days earlier than the rest of the league’s teams, as they are slated to open the season against each other at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, September 10.
Now that the league and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have reached an agreement on how to carry out the final part of this very unusual offseason, we know what the Chiefs’ training camp will look like:
For the rest of this week, newly-informed veterans, like rookies and quarterbacks last week, will begin testing for COVID-19. After receiving their first test, they will be asked to isolate themselves for three days before retesting. If they give negative results each time (the tests that receive the results of the return within 24 hours) they will be allowed to enter the facilities this Friday, July 31.
After that, the players (along with the coaches and staff) will be evaluated every day. At the end of two weeks, if a team’s total infection rate is less than 5%, testing will return to once every other day, and will return to every day if the infection rate increases above that 5 threshold. %. However, it is important to note that these protocols could change as the season progresses and more is learned about virus transmission.
After that, the training ground will be operational.
Camp schedule
- July 31 – August 8: Acclimatization period. 60 minutes are allowed in the weight room and 60 minutes of conditioning in the field. Teams can also take 60-minute tours for the first four days and 75-minute tours for the last four days. August 5 will be a mandatory day off.
- August 9 – August 13: Gradual acceleration period. Practices begin with a 90-minute session on August 9 and can be increased by 15 minutes per day to a maximum of 120 minutes. The remainder of the team’s allowed 3.5 hours of field time can be used for tours. Helmets will be allowed, and starting August 11, shells may be worn, but live contact will not be allowed. August 12 will be a mandatory day off.
- August 14 – September 3: Padded practices. A total of 14 padded practices will be allowed during this 21-day period.
- August 16th Deadline to reduce the list to 80. Regardless of the number of players on the list above, the Chiefs will be allowed to have only 80 in the facility at a time.
- Saturday, September 5: Final cut. All teams must have their rosters of 53 players. As usual, the Top 51 rules will no longer apply; The salaries of all the players on the list will count against the salary limit. 16 players will be allowed in team practice squadrons, to be named after the cut. Four players in each practice squad can be protected from poaching week by week.
Other Notes
- Everyone, players, coaches and staff, should use contact tracking monitors. In the event that an individual test is positive, the data from these monitors will be used to determine whether those who came into significant contact with them should be isolated.
- A special COVID reserve designation has been created. An unlimited number of players for each team can have this designation placed on them. Teams are not required to disclose whether the player has tested positive or has simply been in close contact with another player. Once designated, they must remain on the COVID list for at least 10 days, and at least three days after symptoms have been observed. One exception: an asymptomatic player can return to the active roster after just five days if he has had two negative results.
- High-risk behavior off the field is prohibited. The league and union have agreed on certain behavior: being at a nightclub or covered bar, a home party with more than 15 people, or a church service with more than 25% of building capacity (or attending concerts indoor and professional sporting events) – may result in team discipline.
- Teams are encouraged to conduct as many virtual meetings as possible.
Does all this mean that the Chiefs will go through training ground and start the regular season on time? Unfortunately not.
Does it mean that once the season begins, the NFL will be able to access its full game schedule throughout the postseason? No … it doesn’t mean that either.
But this is the best the league and the NFLPA could offer to give their teams and players a chance to fight to do both.
“Each team will have positive tests and we know it,” Chiefs vice president of sports medicine Rick Burkholder said Saturday. “We are testing 75,000 a day now. We know. What we hope is that we limit our positive tests and when we obtain a positive test, we act accordingly with the CDC to isolate these people and get them back to work healthy and safe.
“It will not feel normal to anyone in this building because it is not normal,” he continued. “We have to adjust. I will return to the 2019 season because no team adjusted as well as the Kansas City Chiefs and we will adjust again. We’re going to get positive things and take care of those guys so that when it’s safe to go back to work, they do it. ”
“We are as safe as you can be here [at the Chiefs practice facility]”Coach Andy Reid said.” Dedication and staying disciplined when you leave this facility will be important. When you’re here, this is a safe environment, so you should continue when you leave here. That ends up being important, and We also have a plan for that, which we’ll talk to the players about. I feel good about myself, yes. I feel good about it. “
