The NFL has warned teams COVID-19 outbreaks will lead to forfeits

Huge news when it comes to the upcoming NFL season came out on Thursday. If a team is unable to play a scheduled game in a week due to COVID-19 issues, and it can’t be rescheduled within the 18-week regular season, it will forfeit.

“We do not anticipate adding a ’19th week’ to accommodate games that cannot be rescheduled within the current 18 weeks of the regular season.” Play on time or don’t play.

Here’s more from today’s memo, which also says the team responsible for a canceled game because of an outbreak among unvaccinated players/staff will be responsible for financial losses and subject to potential discipline from the commissioner. Wow. pic.twitter.com/Q86a2WcG1K

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

The NFL told teams in a memo today that if a game is canceled due to a covid outbreak on a team and cannot be rescheduled within the 18-week framework of the regular season, the team with the outbreak will forfeit the game.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) July 22, 2021

Colts owner Jim Irsay on videoconference w local media:

“I’m not going to give specifics, but we’re over 50 percent in terms of being vaccinated and hopefully headed toward 100 percent…. You can get into the debate club all you want, but logic has it. You get vaccinated.”

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) July 22, 2021

And Arizona wideout DeAndre Hopkins with his take:

Never thought I would say this, But being put in a position to hurt my team because I don’t want to partake in the vaccine is making me question my future in the @Nfl

— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) July 22, 2021

From NFL Now on @nflnetwork on the league’s updated policies on COVID-19 affecting the scheduling of games. pic.twitter.com/StfP4HsMLW

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 22, 2021

Figure in recent stats that show 13 teams are over the vaccinational level of 85% and you see where there should be some concern among owners.

A number of teams had COVID outbreaks last season before the vaccine was available: the Ravens, Texans, Colts, Broncos, Chiefs, Cowboys, Packers, Bears, 49ers, Cardinals, Eagles, Raiders, Lions, Falcons, and Dolphins.

Gonna cost teams if their unvaccinated players cause a cancellation. They’ll have to pay opposing teams’ freight too (please allow for me misreading this whole in airport security line …) pic.twitter.com/GhesXFZG4O

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) July 22, 2021