Steelers 1 of 3 NFL teams with no covid-19 opt-outs

As the deadline for NFL players to opt out of the 2020 season because of coronavirus concerns approached Thursday, Mike Tomlin was confident he would have a complete Pittsburgh Steelers roster heading into on-field workouts at training camp.

Tomlin had reason for optimism.

No Steelers player elected to opt out of the season by the 4 p.m. deadline.

“I don’t have any knowledge of anybody on our team who has any strong considerations in that way,” Tomlin said Thursday morning in a video conference call with reporters. “If that is the case, that’s a very individual decision, one that we all would understand and respect and adjust.”

The Steelers were one of just three NFL teams that did not have a player opt out. The others were the Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons. In all, 65 NFL players decided to skip the 2020 season because of coronavirus concerns.

The Steelers, though, have three players on the reserve/covid-19 list: running back Jaylen Samuels, wide receiver James Washington and cornerback Justin Layne. NFL teams are not permitted to reveal whether players on the list have tested positive or came into close contact with someone who has tested positive.

Tomlin has maintained the NFL’s social distancing protocol at the early phases of training camp, which is being held at Heinz Field this year. Per league rules, the Steelers are conducting strength and conditioning work this week along with classroom instruction and meetings. Players will begin practices that resemble organized team activities next week, with the first of 14 scheduled padded practices commencing Aug. 17.

On Thursday, Tomlin gathered the team’s veterans in one location while his assistant coaches and rookies viewed the meeting virtually from locations around Heinz Field. Tomlin said hand-held devices, iPads and the stadium’s in-house television feed were used by those not physically present at the meeting.

“That’s part of normal procedure,” Tomlin said. “We’re not going to run away from that. We’re going to try different things to become familiar with the technology at our disposal in an effort to have the best learning and teaching environment. That process is ongoing.”

While MLB has encountered several postponements and scheduled adjustments because of a rash of positive covid-19 testing, Tomlin is curious to see whether the NFL can avoid a similar setback once players begin on-field work.

“I don’t know that I’m extremely confident,” he said. “I respect the challenges that the circumstances have presented to the other leagues, some of which we are witnessing. We’re all proceeding with caution and working extremely hard not to become part of that.

“Dr. (David) Sills and his medical staff have led the charge for us in the NFL. We’re working our tails off to adhere to it, and I’m hoping that is enough coupled with the personal decision making that needs to be exhibited continually by guys throughout the course of this.”