Strange new world with COVID protocols at Vikings HQ as training camp commences
Alarms will go off on players tracking bracelets if unauthorized staff get within six feet of the players at the Vikings headquarters in Eagan. Every other shower head has been removed and player lockers are well-spaced. Masks are required by all team personnel in the facility. And lots of COVID 19 testing will take place beginning when the first wave of players report this week. Welcome to 2020 Vikings training camp, pandemic edition.
It’s a challenging undertaking for the 32 NFL teams who hope that positive COVID tests can be limited to the point where the upcoming season can be played as scheduled beginning for the Vikings with their September 13 home matchup with the Packers. Preseason games are now cancelled for this season by joint agreement of the NFL and the players union (which won’t break the fans’ hearts).
It was fascinating to watch Vikings head trainer Eric Sugarman’s videoconference this week in which he led a virtual tour of the team facility to show the safety changes. Sugarman discussed the protocols to be followed as training camp opens with rookies, quarterbacks and select veterans reporting on Thursday and the rest of the team due next Tuesday.
The Vikings’ 172 seat auditorium used for team meetings is limited to 42 seats now, with social distancing. The weight room will be limited to 15 to 25-man sessions. Training room tables will be spread apart with plexiglass installed. Hot and cold tubs will be limited to six people. The cafeteria capacity has been reduced to 40 from 100 with players asked to pre-order meals.
“The first thing players can expect is a test,” Sugarman said. “Secondly, a health screening. We haven’t seen these guys in four months.” He added that the COVID tests will take place in a mobile trailer parked near the facility entrance.
Players are required to have two negative tests before they are allowed into the team facility for camp. Then players will continue to be tested the first two weeks of camp and if less than 5% of the team tests positive, an every other day testing procedure will then be implemented.
If a player tests positive and is asymptomatic, he can return in five days if he’s received two consecutive negative tests. Symptomatic players can return after 10 days including at least three days after last showing symptoms.
“We’re going to have people that get COVID,” Sugarman said. “It’s unavoidable. We have to be able to manage it.”
It’s sad to think that a non-starting player’s chances of making the final roster may well depend on avoiding missing camp time due to contracting the virus. It’s also sad that the NFL and NFLPA reportedly have agreed to 80 player rosters for the training camp period to aid in social distancing with fewer players in house. So with most teams already having close to 90 players on the roster, there likely will have to be player cuts taking place before players hit the practice field for the first time.
That’s part of the ongoing negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA on the structure of rosters and training camp. The union also wants a longer acclimation period due to the pandemic closing offseason workouts and most public gyms. That period is likely to be at least two weeks with strength and conditioning work only before actual practices start which is a workable plan with no preseason games. And it will be interesting to see how much contact takes place in practices as the amount of contact in training camp and in-season practices has already been greatly reduced in recent years.
One of the best things I saw during Sugarman’s info session was the extended helmet shield with breathing holes available to players during practice. It would be a wise move for the league and players’ union to mandate use of these helmets with the face shields despite some player protests on the issue. Staying safe by all possible means should be the goal if this season is going to be played uninterrupted.
“The virus is not political,” Sugarman said. “We have to get everyone to understand it is an absolute competitive advantage in the NFL in 2020 to adhere to these protocols. I have confidence we can do it. We’ve taken every step to make this building as safe as possible. I’m hopeful we can make this work.”
Vikings & NFL Observations:
1.The NFL Players Association reported 95 players are known to have tested positive for the coronavirus prior to league-wide testing. That’s about 3% of the players currently on rosters. Hopefully when players are in camp and spending less time out in public, the number of positive tests will be minimal.
I thought it was great news and a positive sign for the NFL when the NBA reported no positive tests among 346 players tested for COVID-19 this past week and MLS reported zero positives out of 1,168 tests last weekend at its ongoing tournament. It showed these bubble sites for the NBA and MLS are working so far (and presumably for the WNBA teams also in the Orlando bubble). We know the NFL and MLB are not going to be in bubbles as they play games in home and away stadiums. But the fact that other leagues are keeping things under control is reason for optimism. With a ton of testing and strict guidelines, hopefully all pro sports and the colleges too can play out their upcoming seasons.
2. Positive contract news from the Vikings this week included Head Coach Mike Zimmer agreeing to an extension (he was going into his final season under contract) and first round receiver Justin Jefferson agreeing to terms with the rest of the rookie class sure to follow.
Zimmer has coached the Vikings into the playoffs in three of his six seasons and has directed five straight top 10 scoring defenses. He and GM Rick Spielman, along with solid staff support, have built and maintained a consistent playoff contender. Look for Spielman also to be extended soon as he is entering his last year under contract and deserves a long term deal.
The other big Vikings contract question involves whether Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook will be extended by reporting time next Tuesday and if not, will he hold out as he’s reportedly threatened to do? If that occurs, then under league rules Cook will not be allowed to become an unrestricted free agent next March since he currently is under contract (but that didn’t stop Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott who held out for all of preseason last year before signing his $15 million per year extension).
3. The Vikings informed season ticket holders this week that “significantly reduced capacity” is possible for games at U.S. Bank Stadium this season. The team is allowing fans to opt out of season ticket plans this season for credit in 2021 or full refunds are available by request. The Vikings will give priority to seat license owners.
While the other major pro sports leagues are resuming play in the next week or so with no fans in attendance at least initially, the NFL is determined to try and make it possible for limited capacity games from the start except so far in the case of the Jets and Giants who announced no fans will be allowed in games as of now.
Green Bay is expecting 10,000-12,000 fans at Lambeau Field for their early games while Atlanta estimated their number at 10,000-20,000. And the NFL says fans will be required to wear face masks if they’re allowed to attend games. That means sales of purple face masks with Viking logos will be brisk this fall if fans are indeed allowed to attend home games.