The NFL has informed teams that training camps are expected to start on schedule

With news Thursday morning of the Hall of Fame Game cancellation, hope that the 2020 NFL season would go ahead as scheduled seemed low. However, by the end of the day ESPN’s Adam Schefter would report that NFL executives informed teams that training camp is still expected to run on time.

While training camp is still going to go ahead, the Steelers won't be going to Latrobe. The NFL ruled each of its teams must conduct training camp at team facilities which means the Steelers were originally expected to hold their camp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Subsequently, the Steelers have confirmed they will be holding the majority of training camp activities at Heinz Field since the four locker rooms at the stadium will allow the team to better implement the NFL’s restrictions on social distancing.

By staying in Pittsburgh, it will be the first time in over 50 years Steelers training camp won't be held on the campus of St Vincent college.

At this time, players will report for the first day of training camp on July 28. Before the cancellation of the Hall of Fame Game, both the Steelers and the Cowboys had an arrival date of June 22 in order to give ample time to prepare for the game. Instead, both teams are now on the same schedule with the majority on NFL teams. Pittsburgh is also currently scheduled to host two preseason games on August 14th against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and August 23rd against the New Orleans Saints.

According to Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com the NFL is in talks with its player association to potentially reduce the number of preseason games for the 2020 season.

[NFL executive vice president Jeff] Pash told reporters the league is in “active discussions” with the NFL Players Association regarding a potential reduction in the number of preseason games each team will play this season in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Lolley’s full article can be viewed HERE.

Should the NFL reduce the 2020 preseason to only two games, it will take some adjustment to the schedule. With both of the Steelers home games being in the first two weeks, if they were simply to be eliminated the Steelers would need to have one of their remaining games at home.

So even though the NFL has informed teams training camp is still on schedule, there are many things which the league is still trying to figure out in regards to the 2020 NFL season. As these developments occur, make sure you are checking back to Behind The Steel Curtain for all the latest updates.