NFL Extends Virtual Offseason

The NFL’s virtual offseason has been extended through end of May, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The original plan called for V-OTAs through May 15th, but they’ll keep it remote through the end of the month to keep players safe and comply with government ordinances. 

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The virtual OTAs mean no on-field practices or gatherings of any sort at team facilities. The NFL’s memo extends to all 32 clubs, which means that teams won’t be permitted to have in-person offseason activities in any state, even the ones that are in the early phases of reopening. On Tuesday, the governor of Arizona announced that professional sports can resume, effective Saturday. Still, the Cardinals will not be allowed to conduct business at their facility. Ditto for the clubs that camp in California – the 49ers, Rams, Cowboys, and Chargers – who may explore out-of-state options.

The announcement does not come as a surprise. Testing is still sparse and the global situation remains as fluid as ever. The news also doesn’t have much bearing on the league’s scheduled 2020 regular season, one way or the other.

Earlier this month, the NFL asked teams to prepare for a reopening of facilities with a hopeful target date of 5/15. A “safe and phased reopening” is still on the radar, but it won’t happen earlier than June 1.

“It is impossible to project what the next few months will bring,” Goodell wrote. “Uninformed commentary that speculates on how individual clubs or the league will address a range of hypothetical contingencies serves to constructive purpose and instead confuses our fans and business partners, complicates the operations of other clubs, and distracts from the careful planning that is needed right now.”

Meanwhile, in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she expects limited attendance – or no attendance – at Lions games this fall.