New England Patriots 2020 Preseason Could Reportedly Be Shortened

If things take a normal course, the New England Patriots will start their training camp on July 28 and will have their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions on August 13. The NFL has yet to make a decision on this, and the situation is really complicated at this point. The coronavirus pandemic has had a terrible impact on every aspect on the game, and NFL teams had to have virtual meetings in the past few months. Teams will have their training camp and preseason a lot different this time.

The NFL will get players back into their facilities. They have presented their plans earlier this week. Tom Pelissero from NFL Network reported that the current preseason structure will look differently following the coronavirus pandemic.

The NFL and the NFL Player Association are “discussing the possibility of shortening the 2020 preseason” from four to two games.

The Patriots to have shorter preseason

If this happens, teams will have a longer acclimation period to start training camp. Players weren’t allowed to take part in on-field activities this offseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They had virtual workouts. Pelissero reported that the shortening of the preseason is a realistic plan even if players are willing to report one or two weeks earlier than usual to their training camp.

“Under normal circumstances, preseason games are critical to evals of these huge 90-man NFL rosters,” former Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham, a current analyst for NESN and The Athletic, said of the NFL’s plans on Twitter. “The last thing you would want with no offseason program is less live evaluation. But, the decision to start camps in late July without an offseason makes a preseason game two weeks later seem very unlikely.”

The Patriots will have four preseason games in 2020. They have a game with the Lions at Gillette Stadium on August 13, and then will host the Carolina Panthers on August 20. Belichick and his players will travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles (August 27). New York is next on their list, and the Patriots will have the traditional Week 4 matchup with the Giants (September 3).

New England plays without some of its key contributors. This includes Tom Brady and Kyle Van Noy.