NFL Considering Unlimited Returns From Injured Reserve
The NFL Competition Committee endorsed a proposal to help teams cope with positive COVID-19 tests Friday, as the NFL and NFLPA continue to deliberate on protocol for the 2020 season.
THE PROPOSAL
If officially approved, the plan would allow an unlimited number of players to return from the injured reserve and non-football injury lists after just three games instead of the usual eight. Typically, only three players can come off the I.R. during the course of a season.
To be eligible for a return from the injury lists, players would have to remain on the roster through final preseason cuts. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweeted, “My understanding is that there’s less concern in this environment about ‘stashing’ than making sure teams have players they trained available.”
WHAT IS THE COMPETITION COMMITTEE
The Competition Committee that endorsed the idea “reviews all competitive aspects of the game, including (but not limited to) playing rules, roster regulations, technology, game-day operations and player protection,” according to the NFL’s website. Rich McKay, the Atlanta Falcons’ team president, is chairman of the group.
The committee does not institute new rules. It pitches them to team owners who vote on the issues. A 75% “yes” vote is needed to ratify a new rule.
ONGOING STRUGGLES
The league and its players union need to agree on an economic and safety plan for the upcoming season before any organizations kick off training camp.
The most divisive issues are how to classify a player who tests positive for COVID-19 during the season and what to do about a player opting out of participating this year.
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