The NFL as of last night has had 51 players "placed on reserve COVID-19 lists over the past four days, meaning they have either tested positive or were in close contact with someone who tested positive," while 27 players have "opted out of the season," according to Aaron Wilson of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills said, "Each person’s decisions and choices that they make every single day, whether they’re at the facility or away from the facility, those decisions and choices have a direct impact on everyone else in that ecosystem. So shared responsibility is absolutely key." He explained, "That’s why we’ve done a lot of education already and will continue to do that. I think it’s something where we all just have to remain vigilant throughout the course of the season, because any time we let our guard down and relax any of those measures that keep us safe, that’s when we’ll be vulnerable.” Sills added the league is "still gathering the data on our intake testing, and we’ll have more information about that." But he said thus far, "We’ve had a really good response to the intake" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/30).
LIONS GET SERIOUS: In Detroit, Dave Birkett notes the NFL is "using Kinexon bracelets to help monitor player movements inside its buildings, which will help contact tracing when a positive test arises." But the "potential for a Marlins-like spread is there, and there’s little the NFL can do about it outside of educating its players and team personnel and encouraging everyone to wear a face covering" or other PPE. Lions GM Bob Quinn said, "We are not in the bubble, right? We have a bubble once you walk in the facility, but it goes back to the education." Birkett notes at the team's Allen Park practice facility, a "new air filtration system was installed this summer." The building has "undergone 10 deep cleans since closing in March, during which no one is allowed inside for 48 hours." Refrigerators have been "replaced with open-air, handle-less coolers to help slow the spread of germs." The Lions are "using a new app to take breakfast and lunch orders to help streamline the pick-up of food and prevent overcrowding." There is "little the organization has not thought of" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/30).
QUARANTINE QB? In New Jersey, Andy Vasquez reports to keep players safe, the Jets "expanded locker room space by adding trailers outside the building." Coach Adam Gase on Tuesday said that the team is "even considering quarantining a quarterback so that they have a viable option at the most important position." Jets QB Sam Darnold said, "Coaches can tell us all day not to go out. But at the end of the day it really comes from the players and the leaders in the locker room. I think it’s going to be on us to have patience where, if some friends are in the city and I want to go out to the city, I’m just going to have to say no. It’s just going to be the way of the world" (Bergen RECORD, 7/30).
FIGHTING CHANCE: In Milwaukee, Pete Dougherty writes, "I can see why the league chose not to go the bubble route." But perhaps the NFL is "fighting a losing battle and can't pull this off." Still, the league has "time on its side if it’s willing to be as flexible as all signs suggest." That is "one of the reasons it wanted to start camp promptly, for the extra maneuvering room to adjust and even temporarily shut down on the fly." Dougherty: "I’m sure I’m in the minority, but I’m thinking the NFL has a fighting chance to make this work" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/30).
