NFL Looking Into New Facemasks With N95 Material

NFLPA Medical Dir Dr. Thom Mayer believes it is possible the league could use new facemasks equipped with “some form of surgical or N95 material” to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Mayer said, “Back in early March, I had suggested we should consider novel and emerging ways to handle the helmets and the facemarks and the spread of the virus. The bioengineers that we use and the league uses -- Oakley does all the face visors for the league under contract -- these guys got the bit between their teeth.” Mayer did not speculate on what the facemasks might look like, but noted the bioengineers have “got some prototypes.” Mayer: “When you first look at them you think, ‘Gosh, no,’ because you’re not used to seeing it.” He added, “They’re looking at every issue you can imagine, including when it fogs up what do we do with that” (“The Adam Schefter Podcast,” 5/18).