JACKSONVILLE – The coronavirus (COVID-19) is altering the world and nation, sports very much included.
The NFL is hardly immune.
That includes NFL free agency, and part of what likely will be affected in a major way is how teams – including the Jaguars – announce information regarding trades and signings in the early hours, days and perhaps weeks of the NFL 2020 League Year that will begin Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Bottom line: Many of the NFL transactions that have been widely reported in recent days may not be officially announced by teams or reported upon by team media for a while.
The issue stems from the fact while signings and trades can be agreed-upon – and widely reported – neither is official until the player undergoes a physical examination with the acquiring team.
Because NFL players are prohibited from entering club facilities through March 31 because of coronavirus measures, team medical staffs currently can't execute physicals. Clubs do have option to use a physician in the player's current location to administer a physical.
Also, the NFL has prohibited clubs from announcing that teams have agreed to contract terms with free agents – or announcing trades – until an official NFL Player Contract has been executed.
The Jaguars will announce transactions as soon as circumstances permit, and we at jaguars.com and Jaguars media will remain ready to report and analyze transactions when permitted.
