By Amy Tennery
(Reuters) – For the first time this season more than half of this weekend’s NFL games will welcome fans, the league said on Saturday as it oversees its 2020 campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nine of the 14 Week 6 National Football League games will permit fans, while 18 of the 32 teams across the league have been approved to welcome ticket holders, a spokesman said.
The NFL was forced to shuffle its schedule earlier this week due to positive COVID-19 tests among players and personnel.
It ramped up its safety protocols earlier this month, as the pandemic forced the cancellation of pre-season and the annual Pro Bowl game.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Saturday reporting 8,028,332 total infections and 217,918 deaths.
In an effort to keep its season on track, the NFL recently escalated potential punishments for teams found flouting its coronavirus prevention measures, including the possible forfeiture of games.
A handful of coaches were fined after appearing on the sidelines of Week 2 games without proper face coverings. Their affiliated teams also received fines.
DOORS REOPENING
The league has largely left it up to the discretion of individual teams – and their local and state lawmakers – as to whether to permit fans on gamedays.
Teams have slowly reopened their doors.
The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they would allow 7,500 people inside their 70,000-capacity stadium for Sunday’s showdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who take on rivals Cleveland Browns Sunday, had reopened to fans earlier this month after Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf earlier this month eased restrictions on public gatherings in the state.
The Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys are the remaining teams that will welcome spectators in Week 6, the league said.
The Jaguars said on Saturday that the team was conducting football activities remotely after a practice squad member tested positive for COVID-19.
The team later placed a total of 12 on its Practice Squad/COVID-19 list, which applies to players who have tested positive as well as those who may have been exposed.
Jaguars officials said they plan to host the Detroit Lions on Sunday as scheduled.
ESPN reported https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1317571350014418945 that a total of six different NFL teams were forced to place players on their Reserve/COVID-19 lists.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery, editing by Pritha Sarkar and Ken Ferris)
