NFL’s coronavirus protocols will limit players’ postgame interactions

NFL teams will be prohibited from postgame interactions within 6 feet of each other, which means players won’t be allowed to exchange jerseys after games as part of the guidelines to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The restrictions are outlined in the game-day protocols finalized by the league and NFL Players Association. They also require everyone on the sideline who is not a player or coach to wear a mask.

Pro basketball

Full-scale practices inside the NBA bubble at the Disney complex in Orlando, Fla., started Thursday, with the Magic becoming the first team formally back on the floor. By the close of business, all 22 teams participating in the restart were to be checked into their hotel and beginning their isolation from the rest of the world for what will be several weeks at least.

• Washington Wizards guards Gary Payton II and Garrison Mathews as well as center Thomas Bryant did not travel with the team to the

Disney complex. Bryant and Payton tested positive for the coronavirus and Mathews reportedly didn’t join the team

for personal reasons. That puts the Wizards down five players. Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans already decided to not join the team.

Hockey

The New Jersey Devils hired veteran coach Lindy Ruff to take over one of the NHL’s youngest teams and removed the interim tag from Tom Fitzgerald’s title as general manager. The former Rangers assistant replaces interim coach Alain Nasreddine, who guided the team to a 19-16-8 record after John Hynes, who previously was a head coach for the Penguins affiliate at Wilkes-Barre Scranton, was fired. Fitzgerald had served as interim GM since Ray Shero was fired.

Soccer

Nashville SC withdrew from Major League Soccer’s MLS is Back tournament in Florida after nine players tested positive for the coronavirus. FC Dallas previously pulled out after 10 players and a coach tested positive.

Auto racing

Austin Cindric won the first of two NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, charging past Chase Briscoe on an overtime restart Thursday night for his first victory of the season and first on an oval.