How the NFL has been preparing lately:JULY 24NFL owners and the NFL Players Association held a call on Friday afternoon to discuss a number of issues related to the 2020 season, and it sounds like the talks were very productive, with training camps set to start on time. Training camp for most of the league will begin on Tuesday, July 28. The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans are scheduled to report on Sunday, as they are the two teams that will kick off the regular season slightly earlier than the rest of the league. Read more here.Vikings WR Adam Thielen opened up about the unique challenges facing undrafted rookies this season, and he knows they have it rough. “I know that if I was going through this offseason as a rookie, I wouldn’t be in the NFL,” Thielen said, per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “There’s no chance. So, that part is difficult (for undrafted free agents), but at the same time it’s a unique situation that nobody could have anticipated.” This year, there will be zero preseason games, and players won’t have as much time in pads during training camp. Furthermore, rosters have been cut from 90 players to 80 players, meaning guys like Thielen who had a shot to show off their games during camp probably will not even be on the team this summer. Read more here.Falcons RB Todd Gurley is prepared to sit out the 2020 season if the NFL and NFL Players Association can't come up with a good plan for playing football safely amid growing COVID-19 concerns. Read more here.The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to some compromises regarding finances. Next year’s salary cap will be no lower than $175M, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report. Rather than borrowing money from projected future revenues through 2030 — as the players initially sought — this agreement will take projected funds through 2024 to help guard against a salary cap free fall this season could cause, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets. Read more here.JULY 23The Athletic has released a new NFL fan survey that shows the majority of fans would not be comfortable attending a game until there is a vaccine for the coronavirus. The survey asked 10,091 fans, "When will you feel confident attending an NFL game in person?" Nearly 60% (59.3%) said that they would not feel confident until 'there's a vaccine,' with an additional 27.5% saying that they would go if there was adequate social distancing in place. Only 13.3% of fans surveyed said they would feel confident going to a game without restriction. Read more here.According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, coaches are antsy regarding a complete lack of information from the NFL regarding rules and procedures for training camp. The only thing head coaches know is there will be no preseason games, the league is enforcing social-distancing guidelines and roster sizes could be reduced from 90 to 80. Read more here.Tom Brady reported to the Buccaneers' team facility for the first time Thursday to be tested for COVID-19 as part of his onboarding process with his new team. Read more here.NFL Network's Tom Pelissero noted that training camps, set to open to Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans rookies on Sunday, could begin remotely as the league and union iron-out details for a unique and unprecedented season. Read more here.The NFL has developed a face shield players can wear during games that could help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network shared a sketch of the face shield. See it here.The players’ union has proposed a flat cap in 2021. However, team owners want most of the financial blow to be experienced this season and next. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, that "could lead to a rash of veteran cuts." Read more here.The NFL and NFL Players Association have yet to come to an agreement on how the coronavirus pandemic will impact player salaries. Pelissero reported the NFL could inform teams that virtual workouts will continue indefinitely if an agreement is not in place by this weekend. Read more here.Stefon Diggs is not happy with the NFLPA amid negotiations. He tweeted, "I’m really starting to question our union" on Thursday night. Read more here.JULY 22The NFL announced Wednesday that fans will be required to wear masks to all games this season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.NFL refs won't work training-camp sessions to avoid potential virus outbreaks among personnel, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. This means members of the NFL Referees Association won't work on the field until Week 1 of the regular season, assuming the campaign gets underway, as planned. Read more here.JULY 21The NFL Players Association confirmed that at least 95 individuals leaguewide have tested positive for the coronavirus throughout the pandemic, with 59 of those cases being players. The union added that it has approved Infectious Disease Emergency Response (IDER) plans for eight of the league's 32 clubs. The remaining 24 IDER plans are under review. Read more here.The NFL and NFL Players Association are expected to allow players to wear decals honor their helmets that honor victims of police brutality in order to shed light on systemic racism in America. According to Front Office Sports, the league is currently working with the NFLPA to create an official list of approved names that players will then be able to wear by week 1, which is scheduled to start on Sept. 10. Read more here.The NFL is reportedly expecting to spend up to $75 million on COVID-19 testing this season. The league will rely on consistent testing to ensure that the coronavirus is not spreading among players and team personnel. Read more here.According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, the current NFL collective bargaining agreement allows the NFL Draft to be moved to no later than the first week of June. While not a huge delay, it could potentially allow a spring college football season to be played and completed before the annual draft. Read more here.The NFLPA has told players that all preseason games are canceled. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport confirmed the news. This has long been the expected outcome regarding preseason. Read more here.Although preseason has been canceled, Packers president Mark Murphy nevertheless believes football fans will get a season at some point. Murphy reportedly added that he's "confident" there will be a season even if fans can't attend games. However, he's not ready to close the Lambeau Field doors just yet. Read more here.The competition committee has endorsed a plan to allow an unlimited number of players to return from IR this season, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The committee is also recommending teams be permitted to move players from IR back to the active roster after three weeks instead of the usual eight. Read more here.The long-rumored roster reductions ahead of training camps look set to ensue. The NFLPA expects rosters to be pared from 90-player maximums to 80 by camp, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The NFL agreeing to the NFLPA-preferred zero-preseason-game arrangement lessens the need for 90-man rosters. Read more here.Since this year's college football season might get moved to the spring, would the NFL accommodate players by moving the 2021 NFL Draft. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic explored that notion and reported that it’s one possibility. Read more here.As Stu Jackson wrote for the team's official website, the Rams have informed season-ticket holders that "SoFi Stadium will be at limited or no capacity in 2020" and that season tickets are deferred to the 2021 campaign. Read more here.JULY 20The NFL has agreed to test players every day for COVID-19 when they report to work, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network provided more details of the agreement, noting that the league has agreed to test players every day for the first two weeks of training camp and reevaluate after that based on the positivity rate. If the positive test rate is below 5 percent, the NFL will then test players every other day. Read more here.Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay isn't fully convinced NFL training camps will open as scheduled amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic. McVay spoke about the subject during a recent appearance on the "HelliePod" podcast. Read more here.If the New York Giants and New York Jets can play home NFL games this fall amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic, they will do so without fans attending MetLife Stadium. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed that guidelines prohibiting large outdoor gatherings apply to all sports teams in the state. Read more here.JULY 19The Dolphins told their rookies to push back their reporting day from Tuesday until Thursday, per Barry Jackson and Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Read more here.In a coordinated effort, many stars blasted the NFL on social media over the league's apparent lack of safety protocols in place. J.J. Watt, Richard Sherman, Byron Jones, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, Jarvis Landry and many others were among the players to tweet messages along with the hashtag #WeWantToPlay. Throughout the day, more and more players tweeted that hashtag in order to send the league a message. Read more here.Furthermore, some players are so concerned that they are considering a strike in order to get the safety measures they want from the NFL. Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network reported the contingent of players is willing to strike "if their demands are not met or the league is not willing to meet them halfway." Read more here.Despite all this concern, the league is not willing to budge on potentially pushing back the start of the season. Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the NFL’s league office is not receptive to the idea of delaying football season. Read more here.With so much consternation, several "prominent" players told ESPN’s Trey Wingo they believe there is only a 50 percent to 60 percent chance the 2020 season will be played. Read more here.It doesn't look like fans will be able to attend games, and if they can't — or will be limited in capacity — Raiders owner Mark Davis says he won't go to games either. Davis told Vic Tafur of The Athletic: “I won’t go if the fans can’t go, and the way it looks right now there won’t be any fans at our games.” Read more here.Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence is considering sitting out the season, telling ESPN.com’s Todd Archer that he's concerned for his family's safety, especially since he and his wife have a baby on the way. The league's lack of safety protocols makes him think, "Man, are we some pawns? Is my life just a game." Read more here.JULY 18Training camp for all 32 NFL teams will begin on July 28, according to a memo issued by the league office on Saturday, via NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Rookies will report on July 21. Meanwhile, quarterbacks and injured players will be able to report starting on July 23. The Chiefs and Texans stand as exceptions. Kansas City rookies and quarterbacks will show up for work on Monday. Ditto for Houston’s rookies. Read more here.The NFL has proposed a plan that will allow players to opt out of the 2020 season for any COVID-19-related health concerns, as outlined by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. There are several provisions. Players who opt out would receive a $150K stipend for the year, minus any money already received this season. Unsurprisingly, opt-out players would have their contract toll for a full year. Read more here.JULY 17The NFL has backed off of its pitch to place 35% of player salaries in escrow. Instead, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com hears, they’re now proposing a $40M reduction of the 2020 salary cap and/or player benefits. Read more here.The NFL Players Association's latest proposal includes a measure that would allow players to opt out of the upcoming season with written notice by Aug. 1. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the opt-out would be for players with pre-existing conditions, those who have family members with pre-existing conditions or even just for those who are concerned about playing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, multiple teams have sent memos to players giving them reporting dates for training camp later this month. Read more here.Veteran Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said that he and his entire family tested positive for the coronavirus this offseason. Read more here.NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith said the salary cap could drop by $70 million per team next season. Read more here.NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith conveyed that union officials had a call with team doctors Thursday night. During that call, the doctors gave the opinion, “with a couple reservations,” that it is safe to open training camp. Read more here.NFLPA president JC Tretter thinks players will show up to camp in poor condition. People are unable to go to the gym during the lockdown, and couple that with players having had to adapt and train by themselves without the in-person guidance of coaches and trainers. Read more here.The NFL released travel rules for teams for the 2020 season, and they are strict, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Check out the rules here.Since the NFL is going forward with plans to start training camp, the union has now responded in kind with an official statement, emphasizing player safety and league revenue. Furthermore, NFL insider Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network reports the union will in fact file a grievance against the NFL if it forces players to report to training camp without specific conditions being met. Read more here.JULY 16The NFL Players Association confirmed that 72 NFL players have tested positive for the coronavirus as of July 10. Read more here.According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, the NFLPA disclosed in a conference call that it is preparing for a potential drop in the salary cap next year. Projecting $3 billion-plus in potential lost revenue, the NFL could see tens of millions shaved off its 2021 salary cap. Read more here.Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is planning to play this fall amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic even though he is high-risk for COVID-19 since he has type 1 diabetes. Read more here.According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, players who test positive for COVID-19 will be placed on a new COVID-19 list. Once a player has been placed on the list, his roster spot may be taken by a player who has tested negative. Players on the COVID-19 list will be eligible to practice after three weeks, though they must be returned to the active roster within three weeks after that. If a player is not able to return to the active roster, he will be placed on season-ending injured reserve or released with an injury settlement. Read more here.Texans star J.J. Watt has lashed out at the NFL's lack of plan for the season, tweeting players have received no guidance or information on a multitude of important subjects. Read more here.Despite little guidance from the league, the Chiefs have ordered rookies and QBs to report to training camp on Monday, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, who notes teams have the right to tell players to report under the new CBA. Read more here.The NFL is facing a multibillion-dollar loss in total revenue due to a lack of fan attendance because of the coronavirus. The players get a share of the NFL’s total revenue (they would receive 48 percent by 2021), so they would see a hit as well. Pelissero reports the NFL proposed cuts of $40 million in the salary cap and/or benefits for 2020. The players are said to be opposed to such a drastic cut. Read more here.JULY 14Following the latest economic proposal from the NFL Players Association, the NFL and its owners are reportedly set to respond in ongoing negotiations that will define the upcoming season. Facing billions of dollars in lost revenue, which could deliver a massive blow to the 2021 salary cap, the NFLPA proposed a flat cap in its economic outline for the season. The union’s counterproposal also rejected the league’s request to hold a significant portion of player salaries in escrow and the union requested fully guaranteed money be paid even if games are canceled. Read more here.According to the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud, the Hamilton County Commission is expected to vote Wednesday on spending $10.4 million from the federal government’s CARES Act. If the measure is approved, it would immediately go toward a series of 40 modifications at Raymond James Stadium to make it a safer environment that also follows social-distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.The Patriots will limit attendance at Gillette Stadium this season to just 20 percent capacity, the team announced. As a result, the Patriots will likely see their attendance drop from 65,000-plus in previous seasons to far fewer than 20,000 this year. Read more here.Pat Loeb of KYW News Radio reported that Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is banning large outdoor gatherings through the end of next February due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic. That order includes organizations such as the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles. Read more here.While much of the U.S. is experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 cases, some areas are worse than others. As such some within the NFL are concerned about opening training camps in "hot spot" cities, per the Washington Post’s Mark Maske. That could include training camps in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona. Read more here.JULY 13The NFL has unveiled the Oakley Mouth Shield, a product designed to help reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading during NFL games. The league is sending the Mouth Shield to all 32 teams, with large-scale testing expected to help properly measure the product's effectiveness. Read more here.Jason McCourty and Devin McCourty are the latest to question the NFL, as they co-wrote a guest column for Sports Illustrated's "The MMQB" questioning the league. "So many questions with virtually no answers, all three weeks removed from a potential start to training camp," the McCourtys wrote. Read more here.Aaron Rodgers also questioned whether or not the league will be able to have a full season. "I think top of mind is are we gonna have a season?" Rodgers told Pro Football Talk. "I think there's a lot of things yet to be figured out. We're hopeful, we're hopeful that it's with fans and we can get all the testing procedures down the way they want it for the utmost amount of safety. But I think we're kind of waiting for the league and the [NFL Players Association] to figure some things out." Read more here.Meanwhile, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the situation and said that the league may need to consider delaying training camp. Read more here.Dolphins reps have informed players “everything is up in the air” regarding training camp, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald notes. The Dolphins, like most teams, are scheduled to have veterans report to camp July 28. Rookies are set to report at an earlier date, but the team can see a delay coming, per Beasley. Read more here.Texans safety Justin Reid is calling on the NFL to delay the upcoming season, telling the Houston Chronicle: "I think it would be beneficial to delay the season two or three weeks, so that way we can answer a lot of questions that, us as players .. have procedurally on how the season is going to happen." Read more here.JULY 12Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill has been released from the hospital following his COVID-19 diagnosis. In a statement, Bidwill thanked front-line workers and detailed his experience with the virus. Read more here.JULY 11The details of the NFLPA's economic counterproposal have been prepared, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The points include no escrow of 2020 salaries, flat salary cap of $198.2M for 2021 and several others. Read more here.The NFL Referees Association wants to ensure the safety its officials. As a result, referees are expected to wear gloves and face coverings this season to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus, per Pelissero. Read more hereJULY 10Buccaneers' Donovan Smith expressed his concern with the NFL season being played in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, stating that the upcoming birth of his first child has him questioning if he should play football at all. "Risking my health as well as my family’s health does not seem like a risk worth taking," he said. Read more here.The Jaguars have announced their plans for home games for the upcoming season, which includes filling TIAA Bank Field to 25 percent capacity and requiring fans to wear masks. Read more here.Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports was told there are a group of NFL players with asthma who are giving thought to not playing this season due to concerns over the coronavirus. One of those players is considered an “elite-level guy.” Read more here.The worst-case scenario for the NFL or anyone else for that matter would be someone dying from COVID-19. What would the NFL do if that were to happen? NFL insider Josina Anderson tweeted that there's no exact answer for that. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will react as he deems fit per current protocols. Read more here.JULY 9Ravens running back Mark Ingram expressed a sentiment most players likely share, as he said that he is excited about the season but only if the safety of players, coaches and personnel is guaranteed. "I know there's standards and protocols and guidelines and all that to make sure everybody's healthy and safe. And we're doing everything to make sure nobody's at risk. I'm hopeful that we'll be playing," he said. Read more here.The Steelers announced that fans will be required to wear face masks at home games due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic should spectators be allowed into Heinz Field during the 2020 season. Read more here.The NFL created another set of protocols for players and teams to follow during the upcoming season. Now, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the league is forbidding players from postgame interactions within six feet and will no longer allow jersey swaps. Read more here.49ers star CB Richard Sherman mocked the league for not allowing jersey exchanges but claiming games can safely be played with full contact. Read more here.Coaches and players won’t be required to wear masks on the sidelines. Everyone else in the bench does have to wear a mask, reports NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Read more here.Texans pass-rusher J.J. Watt says that if the league forces players to wear face masks while they play, he will sit out the season — though it sounds like since they won't be required to wear them on the sidelines, it may be a moot point. Read more here.JULY 8The league and union are still at odds over a number of issues, but they have come together on one key point: a club facility protocol for training camp. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the two sides are in agreement on a three-tier framework for facility access, with different players and personnel falling in each tier. One week before training camp, teams must submit to the league a list of personnel who will fall under each tier, a process that has generated some heated debate within some organizations. Read more here.The Ravens announced they will dramatically reduce their stadium capacity this year at M&T Bank Stadium. The team will reduce its seating capacity at M&T Bank Stadium to fewer than 14,000, if attendance is even allowed this year. Read more here.Eagles star Malik Jackson blasted the NFL on Instagram over the league's lack of safety protocols. "It is unacceptable and utterly disrespectful for the owners to have set a camp start date of July 28, 2020 with no safety/financial guarantee agreed upon for us as players, the backbone of this industry," he said. Read more here.JULY 7Bills WR Stefon Diggs tweeted his discomfort about playing during a pandemic. "I’d be lying if I said I was comfortable starting back up," he tweeted. It's difficult to imagine he's the only player who feels that way. Read more here.Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told the Tampa Bay Times he doesn’t think any player will avoid sickness: “The players, they’re going to all get sick, that’s for sure. It’s just a matter of how sick they get.” Read more here.JULY 6According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL will test players and their family members for the coronavirus. The league’s goal is to ensure that the athletes and any persons living with the players don’t have the virus, creating a safe environment at the team facility and at home. Read more here.Packers CEO Mark Murphy is among the folks skeptical this season can take place. With the pandemic getting worse and cases of the coronavirus spiking, Murphy told the team's website that "time is no longer on our side." Read more here.JULY 5Although the NFL is feeling confident with the 2020 season, team coaches and GMs don't feel the same. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reports multiple team leaders are concerned by a lack of communication from the league on how the NFL intends to operate during the pandemic. Read more here.JULY 4The NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams outlining COVID-19 protocols for training camp. The guidelines include what teams should do if a player or staffer has "close contact exposure" with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. See the rest of the rules here.The NFL was expected to announce a reduced roster list for training camp, and it has. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the NFLPA is requesting the league reduce roster sizes from 90 to 80 for the summer session. The proposal makes the NFL’s strict social distancing guidelines easier to follow, but it means fewer jobs for fringe players. Read more here.JULY 3While no one is currently sure if fans will be allowed to attend games, the Packers are still making plans just in case. Green Bays announced there will be safety protocols in place; notably, fans will be required to wear masks at all times. Read more here. JUNE 30Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has implemented a rule that anyone entering the state from certain areas of the country will be forced to self-quarantine for 14 upon arrival. Most Patriots players do not live in Massachusetts full-time, so the new rules means those players will need to go there ASAP in order to participate in training camp. Read more here.As teams are brainstorming ways to keep their players and staffers safe, a new idea has come to light. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports some teams are planning to "fly to and from road games on the day of the game" to limit exposure to individuals, such as hotel workers, who may not social distance and self-isolate through the fall. Florio notes game-day travel won't be an option for teams flying cross-country. Predictably, NFL players are already reacting to the report. Tryann Mathieu and Allen Robinson are among the players who don't think this is a good idea. Read more here.JUNE 29Dr. David Chao, who served as the Chargers team doctor from 1996-2013, told Sports Illustrated that he predicts the number of positive cases will skyrocket. While the NFL has created strict social distancing guidelines for team facilities, clubs will head into training camp with 90-man rosters, and it is inevitable that the coronavirus could be passed between players and staff. Read more here.JUNE 26Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has authorized the return of professional sports in her state. Whitmer made it clear that capacity crowds will not be permitted until there is a COVID-19 vaccine, but Detroit Lions team president Rod Wood is trying to get Ford Field opened up to fans just the same. Read more here.JUNE 25The NFL has canceled the Cowboys-Steelers Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 and has postponed the enshrinement ceremony, which was scheduled for Aug. 8. The Cowboys and Steelers are expected to play in the 2021 Hall of Fame Game, while the NFL's plan for the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony is currently unknown. Read more here.Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins, now a CNN contributor, said on the network that he is currently not sure if he's going to play this season. Jenkins called NFL "non-essential" and that "the risk has to be eliminated before we — before I would feel comfortable with going back." Read more here.The league is discussing a reserve list for teams in the likely event a player contracts the coronavirus, according to NFL general counsel Jeff Pash, via SI.com’s Albert Breer. It appears the league is open to helping teams organize their rosters to deal with this scenario. The prospect of expanding practice squads has already surfaced. Read more here.JUNE 24According to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Daily, the NFL will have the first six to eight rows of seating blocked off from fans this season in a bid to protect players and staff. That space will be covered with a tarp, and teams will be allowed to place sponsor logos on the tarp that will be visible on television. Read more here.JUNE 23The league does not envision a uniform policy regarding attendance and is instead planning to leave it up to states to decide which teams can have spectators at venues, reports Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic. Read more here.JUNE 19Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, says the league will embrace an "ecosystem" model rather than a bubble. What exactly does that mean? It's not totally clear, although it sounds like it leaves the door open for teams traveling and even playing in front of fans, which is something that the NBA and NHL have ruled out for their resumed seasons. Read more here.JUNE 15Several Cowboys and Texans players tested positive for COVID-19 recently, according to Ian Rapoport of Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The teams followed the appropriate health protocols, and none of the players were believed to have been in their teams’ facilities at any point. Read more here.Rapoport followed up by revealed Cowboys Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott was among the players who tested positive. Read more here.According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, NFLPA director DeMaurice Smith told agents the league is estimating that a season without fans would result in $3 billion less in revenue. It remains unclear if NFL teams will be able to host fans. Read more here.