Reports: NFL Shortens 2020 Preseason Schedule To Two Weeks

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The National Football League plans to shorten the 2020 preseason schedule to two weeks, according to multiple reports.

Weeks one and four will be cut from the preseason slate, according to Pro Football Talk.

The NFL is reportedly expected to announce the adjustments in the coming days.

Week One and Week Four will be the preseason weeks that are scrapped, per source.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 1, 2020

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the primary factor in the tweaked preseason “was the understanding that players will need longer to get into football shape.”

Seifert reported that there will be about a three week “acclimatization period” between the starting of NFL training camps and the first preseason games.

Games are scheduled to be played in Weeks 2 and 3 of the original preseason schedule. Could mean we’ve seen the last 4-week NFL preseason. CBA allows for it to be shortened if/when 17-game regular seasons start.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) July 1, 2020

In early June, NFL coaching staffs were allowed to return to work at team facilities.

The league and NFLPA are currently working to finalize protocols for players to return to team facilities for training camp in July.

The 2020 NFL season is currently scheduled to kick-off when the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans on Thursday, September 10.