The NFL is ready to take the next step in its return to whatever a new version of normal is as the league continues to maneuver through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s the latest from ESPN’s Field Yates:
The NFL has informed teams that, effective tomorrow:
* Coaches are permitted to return to practice facilities
* Only players receiving treatment are permitted to be at the facility, as has been the case
* The maximum number of people at facilities is now up to 100 people— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 4, 2020
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has a screen shot of the memo sent by the league, which you can read here.
The quick and dirty: Matt Nagy and his coaching staff with he Chicago Bears will be allowed to return to Halas Hall tomorrow. Same as 30 other teams. I say 30, because Rapoport notes that the league foresees only the 49ers being unable to return to their facilities on Friday. That’s because team returns are contingent on getting the green light from local authorities and being on the up-and-up with local health guidelines. For what it’s worth, Cook County’s recent move into Phase 3 of the state of Illinois’ re-opening plan gives the Bears a good shot at being able to get back to work.
Additionally, players who are getting medical treatment are able to get in, too. And finally, max capacity of these facilities has been set at 100 people.
It’s a small step on the surface, but one that gets the ball rolling in the right direction.
So, who’s going to be the first coach through the doors at his team’s facility at 12:01 a.m. on Friday? Any takers?