The Minnesota Vikings tight end expects no delay to the start of the 2020 season.
In a matter of days, players from the Minnesota Vikings are expected to report for the start of this year’s training camp. It will be the beginning of what figures to be one of the strangest seasons in the history of the Vikings.
But even with players around the entire league scheduled to report to camp this week, there still remains some uncertainty around everything beginning on time thanks to the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
While the NFL hasn’t moved the original start date of the first game of the regular season (Thursday, September 10), plenty of people still have their doubts about that opening matchup taking place on time.
Kyle Rudolph not worried about the Minnesota Vikings season being delayed
Following the league’s Thursday night kickoff game, Minnesota’s first matchup of the season is currently scheduled to be inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, September 13 against the rival Green Bay Packers.
While some might be concerned about the Vikings not being able to begin their season on September 13, Kyle Rudolph isn’t one of those who has these doubts.
Rudolph recently spoke to NBC Sports’ Peter King and he was asked if he thinks Minnesota’s 2020 campaign will begin as it’s current set up.
"“I think the season will go off as scheduled and we’ll play the season. I don’t have fear about playing football. I trust the league, I trust the Players Association, I trust (head trainer) Eric Sugarman to keep us safe.”"
Despite his optimism, the Vikings tight end also made it clear that he still has at least a few concerns about the 2020 season.
"“My only fear, I guess, would be being a month or so into the season and having a three-or-four-month interruption. It’s so tough to get into football shape, and to stay in football shape. I don’t know what the game would be like when we came back.”"
So at the very least, Rudolph is making it sound like Minnesota and the rest of the NFL are going to make an attempt to begin the season on time. Whether or not it’s able to finish with the Super Bowl in February like normal is something that remains to be seen.
The Vikings are doing their part in making sure their facilities are as safe as possible for their players, coaches, and staff members.
Minnesota has installed COVID-19 testing bays all around the TCO Performance Center to use when entering the facilities, face coverings are required at all times in the building with no exceptions, they’ve spread out the players in the locker room so that no one has a locker being used next to theirs, the seating has been reduced in the meeting room and cafeteria to implement social distancing, plexiglass will be installed between the tables in the training room, and the team has one designated room in the building for anyone to occupy if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
These measures that have been and will be implemented are probably why Rudolph is optimistic about the Vikings and the rest of the league beginning the 2020 season as it’s currently scheduled. Hopefully, the Minnesota tight end is correct with his prediction.