The NFL agreed to cut this year’s preseason in half from four games to two Wednesday as it adjusts its calendar because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.
Pro Football Talks reported that Weeks 1 and 4 of the preseason will be canceled, and that the league is expected to make an official announcement on Thursday — “if not sooner.” NFL executive Jeff Pash acknowledged in a conference call last week that the league was having “active discussions” about changes to its schedule.
Barring any adjustments, the cancellation of the two games means the Washington Redskins will not have a preseason game at FedEx Field in 2020. The team was scheduled to play the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 15 (Week 1) and the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 3 (Week 4) at home.
Instead, the Redskins will play at Indianapolis (Aug. 24) and at Jacksonville (Aug. 29).
The Washington Post, however, reported that under the new schedule, each team is expected to have at least one home game.
Training camp is still scheduled to begin on time, which for most teams — including the Redskins — is set for July 28. But the league announced last week it had canceled its annual Hall of Fame Game that would have kicked off the preseason.
Earlier in the offseason, the NFL allowed for teams to hold meetings remotely for coaches and players to go over playbooks and schemes. This took the place of the league’s normal Organized Team Activities (OTAS).
Though training camp is set to begin later this month, players have yet to be allowed into team facilities, with the exception of those rehabbing an injury. Coaches were allowed back on June 5.
Some quarterbacks like Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady and Washington’s Dwayne Haskins have held workouts with teammates outside of facilities — despite a recent call from the players’ union to stop due to the surge of coronavirus cases around the country.
NFL to announce on Thursday (if not sooner) that Week One and Week Four of the 2020 preseason will be scrapped https://t.co/eJ5jO7EDCQ
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 1, 2020
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.