Seahawks, NFL Stars Express Concerns with NFL Over Lack of COVID-19 Protocols

(UPDATE – 1:25 p.m.) Pro Football Talk says the league and the NFLPA have agreed to daily COVID-19 testing.

There’s an agreement between the NFL and NFLPA to conduct daily COVID-19 testing, per source with knowledge of situation. The players had pushed very hard for it.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 20, 2020

More context from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Players will need multiple negative tests before they’re allowed to be in the building for physicals or team activities. That’s a lesson the NFL has taken from other pro leagues: Take it slow. NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills says test results expected within 24 hours.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 20, 2020

(ORIGINAL – 11:28 a.m.) Dozens of NFL players tweeted out concerns over the NFL’s lack of protocols for player health and safety, and overall COVID-19 response.

I am concerned.
My wife is pregnant.@NFL Training camp is about to start..

And there’s still No Clear Plan on Player Health & Family Safety. 🤷🏾

We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones. #WeWantToPlay

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 19, 2020

An important bit of context from Texans star defensive end JJ Watt detailed what the NFL players have been told and have not been told, as of Sunday.

Once again in the interest of keeping everyone (players & fans) as informed as possible, here is an updated list of what we as players know and don’t know as the first group gets set to report to training camp tomorrow.#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/xQcjs33zgM

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 19, 2020

One of the concerns raised encompasses the NFL apparently ignoring experts they hired to help with procedural elements to return to play.

Seattle left tackle, Duane Brown

Crazy to hear the @NFL is not following the recommendations of their own experts regarding player health and safety. How does this even make sense?? I want to play football but we need the @NFL to create a safe work environment for us#WeWantToPlay

— Duane Brown (@DuaneBrown76) July 19, 2020

49ers cornerback, Richard Sherman

The NFL has ignored the safety recommendations from the experts that THEY hired. We all love this game and want to go out and compete with our brothers. The NFL needs to provide a safe work environment for us to do that. #WeWantToPlay

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) July 19, 2020

Eagles cornerback, Darius Slay

Why isn’t the NFL listening to the recommendation from their own joint committee? If we want to have a full season it will have to look different. @NFL make the necessary changes.   #WeWantToPlay

— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) July 19, 2020

Saints QB, Drew Brees

We need Football! We need sports! We need hope! The NFL’s unwillingness to follow the recommendations of their own medical experts will prevent that. If the NFL doesn’t do their part to keep players healthy there is no football in 2020. It’s that simple. Get it done @NFL

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) July 19, 2020

To think the NFL has had this long to come up with protocols, and yet they still don’t have something in place is frustrating several players, including Seahawks wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

It’s crazy to hear the NFL has yet to address major health and safety issues with training camp being 2 weeks away. We want to play football. Make it happen @NFL. Keep us safe!   #WeWanttoPlay

— DK Metcalf (@dkm14) July 19, 2020

I want to play. But I also want my health to be valued more than the entertainment I bring through my play for God! #WeWantToPlay

— Tyler Lockett (@TDLockett12) July 19, 2020

This is the ultimate safety and fairness issue that anyone can imagine. To be clear, we want to play. But, we also want to protect ourselves and our families. As players, we take health risk in this game everyday. But we’ve never imagine having to take those risk to our families.

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) July 19, 2020

Seattle linebackers, Bobby Wagner and Bruce Irvin, called on the NFL to make a safe work environment.

👇🏾 https://t.co/45Wk8yNEO8

— Bobby Wagner (@Bwagz) July 19, 2020

NFLPA President and Browns center JC Tretter

What you are seeing today is our guys standing up for each other and for the work their union leadership has done to keep everyone as safe as possible. The NFL needs to listen to our union and adopt the experts’ recommendations #wewanttoplay

— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) July 19, 2020

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