The NFL’s latest round of COVID-19 testing results has encouraging news

The NFL is trying to make a bubble-less season work.

The NFL opened training camps last week for all 32 teams, and the NFLPA release promising results from the most recent round of COVID-19 testing. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, 56 players have tested positive so far, which is a pretty good rate considering the more than 2600 players currently participating in training camps. Pelissero also reported that less than 1 percent of all tests administered to players since testing began have been positive.

Obviously, it’s still really early to be making assumptions about how the NFL season will go. Returning to training camp with minimal positives is a big first step, but traveling and competing around the country is a whole different story. Just look at the MLB, who got through preseason and then had a complete meltdown as soon as they began the official season.

There also hasn’t been any indication from the MLBPA as to how severe the positive cases have been. 56 players testing positive but remaining asymptomatic or with mild symptoms would be a very good sign, but if any of them have been seriously sick or hospitalized, that’s when we should start being concerned about putting lives at risk so that we can watch football this fall.

The biggest question right now is what testing results look like among coaches and other team personnel. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson recently tested positive, and every team has dozens of other staffers, trainers and position coaches. It’s great that players are having minimal positive tests, but the health of everyone affiliated with the franchise is equally in danger when it comes to this virus.

What comes next?

With everyone back in training camp, it’s going to be on the players to keep up their social distancing and other safety protocols. Irresponsible behavior of players has been a big factor in the MLB’s downfall over the past couple of weeks. The Miami Marlins had a massive outbreak after several athletes allegedly attended a club in Atlanta, and players on the St. Louis Cardinals also returned positive tests after a trip to a casino.

With players opting out of the season and testing positive, teams are going to have to constantly change their game plan and have quality backups ready to go. In such a shortened preseason, it’s going to be a major challenge to make sure everyone is game-ready by the time the season kicks off.  The league is expected to open on Sept. 10, so there’s a lot of hurdles left to clear before we actually get football back.