The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Players returning in pandemic put trust in safety protocols
DENVER — Seasonal colds and the flu spread through NFL locker rooms just about every year, sending some players home sick while others slog through practices hoping they’ll feel better by game day.
Last December, the Patriots flew two airplanes to Houston to keep the healthy players apart from sick ones, which included seven starters. On the final weekend of the 2016 season, the Raiders were ravaged by a bug that swept through their entire roster and waylaid hopes of a deep playoff run.
Now, teams have COVID-19 to worry about.
Offseason workout programs have been entirely virtual since the league closed team facilities in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Coaches began returning to their offices Friday but players not seeking treatment for injuries probably won’t be allowed to return until training camps next month. Many players polled by The Associated Press say they’re scared to return to work without a cure or a vaccine for the coronavirus that has infected millions worldwide and killed more than 100,000 Americans. But they’re putting their trust in health protocols the NFL medical staff is developing, expected to include daily temperature checks and frequent virus tests.
The only players allowed into team headquarters over the past three months are those rehabbing from serious injuries. One of those is Broncos edge rusher Bradley Chubb, who missed most of last season with a torn knee ligament.
“Playing football is like my No. 1 goal right now just because of the whole injury thing,” Chubb said, “but I feel like when it comes to the coronavirus, the NFL has great leaders in place to make sure we’re going to be back in the safest way possible.”
That appears to be a common sentiment across the league. “I’m not too concerned,” Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson said. “I think that if we’re going to be put back in the facility, I think measures are going to be taken.”
Staying safe and healthy is more important than ever, suggested Falcons center Alex Mack. “It’s definitely a concern,” Mack said. “Every year during cold and flu seasons, they harp on us to get our flu shot. We’re aware of the risks of that. It’s always in the mind of the team to make sure guys are healthy. You’re don’t want half a team missing practice time. You don’t want a bunch of guys sick on game day.”
As a rookie in 2009, Mack was clobbered by the swine flu during the world’s last pandemic. “I had to sit home for three or four days, then I had to jump into a game with no practice. It didn’t turn out well,” Mack said. “That’s not what I want to do ever again. This year, it’s going to be the utmost concern. Being a novel virus, there’s no real history. If you get the flu, people know what happens. You recover and get better. With the coronavirus, there’s a lot of scary things going on in terms of a scarring of the lungs and things like that. (So) playing it safe is the smartest move.”