The National Football League has released details and dates for 2021 offseason workouts.
The Buffalo Bills will hold their rookie minicamp Friday, May 14 through Sunday May 16.
Voluntary offseason workouts, otherwise known as OTAs, for all Bills players will be held on May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, and June 10-11. All incoming rookies, including tryout players, as well as any other players on the roster with less than one accrued season are eligible to participate.
Their mandatory minicamp for all players is June 15-17.
As per Article 21 of the collective bargaining agreement, the voluntary nine-week offseason program is conducted in three phases, the first of which began almost three weeks ago.
Here are the details for this offseason:
Phase 1 (April 19-May 14)
Phase 1 has been extended from its customary two-week period to four weeks, with activities limited to strength and conditioning, virtual meetings, and physical rehabilitation only.
Phase 2 (May 17-21)
Phase 2 has been shortened from three weeks to one week. On-field workouts may include individual player instruction and drills, “perfect play” drills, drills and plays conducted with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, with each group permitted to align 11 or fewer players across from 11 or fewer players. Players on one side of the ball may execute a play, but players on the opposite side of the ball may not initiate contact with, or attempt to impede the progress of, players who are running the play. All such drills must be conducted at an acceptable walkthrough pace (i.e. Pro Bowl practice).
Phase 3 (May 24-June 18)
Phase 3 remains its customary four weeks in length. Beginning in Phase 3, clubs may conduct in-person meetings and classroom instruction subject to COVID-19 testing cadence, tracking, facility access and other protocols. During Phase 3, teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs”. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
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