NFL teams permitted to open facilities May 19—under heavy restrictions

In a memo to team owner (leaked by ESPN’s Adam Schefter), the NFL notified teams that they will be permitted to open their team facilities next week, starting May 19, as long as they are still in accordance with local state regulations. This new memo goes against the early policy that NFL facilities will only open when all 32 teams have been given the green light from local government that they can return back to work.

However, the opening of team facilities comes with severe limitations to protect fairness across the league. Most notably, coaches are still not permitted to return to the facilities, ensuring that the workout program remains virtual. Additionally, the only players allowed to return to the facility are those undergoing medical treatment or doing physical rehabilitation.

So who does that leave? Nutritionist, doctors/coaches involved in the rehabilitation process, administrative staff, and equipment staff, among others.

For the Detroit Lions, however, it seems unlikely their facility will open up next week. Michigan remains fairly strict in their quarantine rules at the moment, though some businesses are starting to open up again as the new cases of COVID-19 continue to decline in the state. Michigan’s current stay-at-home order is in place until May 28, though that has been extended several times already.