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The Broncos played a game without a quarterback because of COVID-19’s contact tracking. The 49ers played a game after placing four key players, including three recipients, on the COVID-19 list the day before the game started. The Ravens lost a dozen key holders and contributors, including NFL 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson, in Week 12, despite their game against the Steelers having been rescheduled three times. The Browns played Sunday’s game with only one receiver available on their 53-player roster.
The results of these games were predictable.
The NFL said all the time, however, that it would not reschedule games for competitive reasons, just for medical reasons. It will take the same approach in the postseason, and the NFLPA is always aware of scheduling decisions based solely on health and safety.
“I think it is a very slippery slope to read or start making decisions motivated by competitive balance,” said NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith in a video conference on Tuesday. “I think that once you start making those decisions, it’s very difficult to manage and also very difficult to determine when to stop.
“I think what you’ve seen over the course of 16 weeks is that the league and the union work hard to make tough decisions, but right decisions about the health and safety of the player.”
NFLPA President JC Tretter is the Browns ‘pivot, so he saw the results of the Browns’ first four receivers being considered close high-risk contacts by linebacker BJ Goodson, who generated a positive test on Saturday morning.
The Browns lost to the Jets 23 to 16 on Sunday, which could cost them a playoff spot. They put tight end Harrison Bryant and safety Andrew Sendejo on the reserve COVID-19 list on Tuesday, with a big game against the Steelers on Sunday.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” said Tretter. “The guys want to be out there, and that was one of the most difficult things this year. Guys are competitors. The boys play because of injury, because of illness, but this is the year that this is not possible. You cannot play through COVID. It is not safe for the guys around you, and the choice is made by the player [if] you can do it.
“It is not difficult, and it is not difficult if you are a close contact. And that’s why following the protocols is so important – wearing your mask, wearing your Kinexon [tracking device] and physical distance from the installation. If you do these three things, you probably won’t get the virus and you won’t end up on the list of high-risk contacts. So, following protocols and having 100 percent compliance solves everything. “
The NFL has informed teams today that it will continue daily testing and intensive protocols during the playoffs. The NFL Board of Directors and Players’ Association also agreed to practice unlimited squad upgrades without a player having to release waivers during the 2020 postseason.
During the regular season, a team could move a player to the active squad as a standard elevation only twice.
The NFL will not go to a neutral website bubble or have mandatory local bubbles for the postseason, relying on the functioning of its protocols.
“I don’t think there is a need for [a bubble or bubbles]”Said Smith.
Few expected the NFL to play all 256 games of the regular season without a Week 18 or some cancellations, but there are still five days left to do just that.
“We said from the start that it was not about getting started,” said Tretter. “We were confident that we could get to the point where we started. It was about starting, continuing the season and ending in the Super Bowl. We are closing with this objective. It will be necessary for everyone to continue complying with the protocols and doing the right thing and having 100 percent compliance, but each person who enters that building gives a lot of credit to the year.