The NFL offseason won’t last long.

The NFL saw its fewest number of concussions in the preseason since tracking started in 2015.

The NFL’s new dynamic kickoff is achieving its goals in the preseason of raising the rate of return and the threat of big plays after years of increasing touchbacks.

The NFL's chief medical officer says the league is prepared for any emergency on game day, whether it's a preseason exhibition or the Super Bowl between Kansas City and Philadelphia on Sunday.

The NFL’s handling of concussions has evolved dramatically from the days when players were given smelling salts on the bench and sent back into the game.

Students from four Historically Black College and University medical schools will be selected for clinical rotations with NFL team medical staffs this year.

The NFL’s chief medical officer says asymptomatic players are not spreading COVID-19 based on his observations during this season.

Only unvaccinated players and those experiencing possible symptoms of COVID-19 will be tested starting Sunday under the NFL’s revised protocols.

The NFL has updated its protocols in reaction to an increase in COVID-19 cases around the league, and it is pushing booster shots as the most effective protection against the coronavirus.

A person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that the NFL is planning “significant changes” to its COVID-19 protocols amid the worst three-day stretch for the league during the pandemic, The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because details haven’t been finalized, said the league and the NFL Players Association are discussing three main areas: testing protocols; return to play guidelines to allow asymptomatic players who’ve tested positive to...

The NFL is requiring players and staff to wear masks inside team facilities regardless of vaccination status for a week starting on Thanksgiving, and they must be tested twice for COVID-19 after the holiday.

When the reigning league MVP and several other key players enter the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, it clouds the numbers that indicate significant progress made in protection against the coronavirus.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will miss Sunday's game at Kansas City after being placed in the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league is not going to issue a report on its 10-month investigation into allegations the Washington Football Team engaged in harassment and abuse.

The NFL says 93% of players are vaccinated for COVID-19 and the league wanted mandatory vaccination but the NFLPA wouldn’t agreed to it.

From players getting COVID-19 vaccinations to relaxed coronavirus protocols to lineup issues, particularly at quarterback, the NFL faces a multitude of questions as training camps open.

The number of NFL players who are in the COVID-19 vaccination process has reached 80%, with nine teams having 90% or more of their players in that category.

Sills said the league had 262 cases of COVID-19 among players and 463 cases among coaches, staff and other personnel. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)The NFL is taking steps to learn more about different ways to help players manage pain. Last month, the NFL and NFL Players Association asked researchers with experience conducting controlled, experimental studies related to pain management to submit information that may be useful in treating players. “NFL players obviously have a tremendous interest in what they put in their bodies and what effects can be. If you’re taking a pain medication, you want to know how does it work on my pain.

TAMPA, Fla. – Playing a contact sport in the middle of a pandemic seemed unthinkable to everyone except the NFL when the novel coronavirus shut down the country in March. The league played 256 games in the regular season without any cancellations and made it through the playoffs to get here. “There’s so many people that had to work together to get this done,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday. Though stadiums were empty most of the season, 1.2 million fans attended NFL games when they were allowed. “They need to be smart.”Just as it seems the NFL was for much of the last five months.

Sills said the league had 262 cases of COVID-19 among players and 463 cases among coaches, staff and other personnel. The NFL had an overall test positivity rate from Aug. 1 through the end of January of 0.08%, well below the country's positivity rate and almost all the league's markets. That's well below the country's positivity rate and in almost all the league's markets. Asked if the NFL will mandate vaccinations or set up a vaccination program, Sills said those are conversations for the NFL and the NFL Players Association's medical advisers, with both working closely together. We believe it’s imperative as a way forward out of this pandemic.”Ad___Follow Teresa M. Walker at https://twitter.com/TeresaMWalker___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

(AP Photo/David Richard)CLEVELAND – The Browns can finally practice for the playoffs. The Browns have been kept off the field and limited to virtual meetings in advance of Sunday night's wild-card game in Pittsburgh. On Thursday, quarterback Baker Mayfield said he hadn't thrown a football since last weekend, when the Browns clinched the AFC's No. The league maintains the game will be played as scheduled despite the Browns being without Stefanski and other players due to the virus. The Browns have seven players and six coaches, including Stefanski, who are unable to be around the team due to COVID-19 protocols.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. However, a league spokesman said Thursday there “is no change to the status of the game” at Heinz Field. As his first postseason appearance draws near, Mayfield said he's been doing all he can at home to get ready. For special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, Sunday's game is a scenario he knew was possible due to the pandemic. “Make no mistake, this is Kevin’s team,” said Priefer, a Cleveland native.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh. Positive COVID-19 tests have knocked Stefanski out of Cleveland's wild-card game at Pittsburgh on Sunday night the Browns' first playoff appearance since the 2002 season. 25 Florida State’s visit to Pittsburgh scheduled for Saturday has been postponed due to following COVID-19 testing issues within the Seminoles program. The Creighton women have paused team activities and postponed three games because of a recent positive COVID-19 test result. ___The Tulsa-Central Florida men’s basketball game scheduled for Saturday at Tulsa has been postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests and subsequent contact tracing among UCF athletes.

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)The NFL cites outside influences for the most recent set of positive coronavirus tests, including exposures during the holiday season. There were 21 new confirmed positive tests among players and 37 among other personnel in the league’s latest round of testing for COVID-19. Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer, referred to three sources of exposure: household, outside medical providers, and community/social settings. "They apply for seven days following (a team's) elimination, and include daily testing and other protocols that will remain in place. It expects to have seven games with fans in the stadium on Sunday when every team finishes the regular season.

The league is pressing forward with its goal of playing the Super Bowl as scheduled in Tampa on Feb. 7. What often seemed improbable during the COVID-10 pandemic has become quite achievable. "Contact tracing is the thing people are not talking the most about, but it is foundational to our success," said Sills. The league presses forward with its goal of playing all 256 scheduled games in 17 weeks and the Super Bowl in Tampa on Feb. 7. The trio works with the league’s three-member team consisting of a contact tracer, an epidemiologist and a physician.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)NFL teams won't be allowed to create local bubbles during the postseason by mandating that players stay in a hotel, except for the night before a game. This new test also will be used to clear close contacts the day before games and on game day. Starting this week, anyone clearing testing on game day will be able to take part on game days. But anyone testing positive first must clear isolation before being able to play. Someone counted as a high-risk close contact can play if game day is the first day out of the five-day isolation period.

(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)The NFL won’t be cutting in line to get the coronavirus vaccine. “No one should be thinking about the vaccine going anywhere other than our first responders and the most vulnerable people right now,” said DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association. “The rollout of the vaccine is going to be driven by public health concerns and what medical and government officials determine to be the most efficacious for risk reduction across society as a whole. The largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history got underway Monday with health workers rolling up their sleeves for the first shots on the same day the nation’s COVID-19 death toll hit a staggering 300,000. High-risk health care workers and some nursing home residents were among the first in line for the shots that could finally conquer the outbreak that has upended life across the globe.

The NFL's medical director says all procedures followed before the Baltimore Ravens' game Tuesday night when receiver Dez Bryant tested positive for COVID-19 were done properly and in the same manner as for every case. “But the same exact process was followed in this case as we do in every case. In the meantime, the league told us we would not be allowed to bring a different player up if he tested positive, but if he tested positive, he wasn’t going to be allowed to play. "My understanding, they did all the contact tracing; all the procedures were followed as far as any other player was concerned. But then they came back out when we were on the field in pre-game warmups and said that he had tested positive.

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The Southeastern Conference championship game between No. This will be the ninth time Alabama and Florida have met in the SEC title game, which has been played in Atlanta since 1994. It was moved to take the place of the Michigan-Ohio State game, which was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Wolverines’ program. ___UConn has postponed a second men’s basketball game as it continues to deal with a player’s positive coronavirus test. Should the game be played, the winner of the Washington-Oregon matchup will be Pac-12 North champions and play in the conference title game on Dec. 18.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday the league remains committed to finishing the regular season as scheduled. I’m confident we’ll be able to do it,” Goodell said, referring the NFL Players Association, the clubs and the players. “We don’t see the bubble as most refer to it in one location," Goodell said. We have adjusted our protocols nearly every week.”Sills also stressed that the NFL won't be seeking any preferential treatment when vaccines become readily available. Goodell said NFL protocols do not call for postponing a game because one position group is impacted by COVID-19, as happened with the Broncos.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams announced they will hold their team meetings from home Wednesday after an unidentified player tested positive for coronavirus Tuesday night. Washington also placed injured defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis on the list after announcing a positive test. The Raiders put Ferrell and Joyner on the list Tuesday, joining linebacker Cory Littleton, who tested positive last week, and right tackle Trent Brown, who tested positive last month. Los Angeles center Brian Allen was the first NFL player to confirm he had tested positive for coronavirus back in April. A person with direct knowledge of the situation said the player who tested positive did not travel with Washington for its game at Detroit last weekend.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Denver Broncos running backs coach Curtis Modkins has tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t accompany the team on its trip to New England. “We will take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our team, opponents and community,” the team added. On Friday, the Broncos held running back Melvin Gordon out of practice because of what coach Vic Fangio said was an illness unrelated to the coronavirus. The Patriots canceled practice Friday and later placed center James Ferentz on the reserve/COVID-19 list. On Saturday, the Broncos announced they had elevated defensive lineman Sylvester Williams to the active roster along with running back Jeremy Cox and linebacker Josh Watson.

The Patriots canceled practice Friday and later placed center James Ferentz on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He became the fifth player on the team to test positive for the virus. Newton missed New England’s loss at Kansas City on Oct. 5 after his Oct. 2 positive test. Rookie defensive tackle Marlon Davidson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday and a second person, who is not a player, subsequently tested positive. The Panthers have guard/center Tyler Larsen on the reserve/COVID-19 list, five days after he played against Atlanta.

ATLANTA – The NFL plans to take a cautious approach that may force players and coaches reporting flu symptoms to miss games without testing positive for COVID-19. The Atlanta Falcons closed their facility Thursday following a second positive test for COVID-19. The New England Patriots have twice had their original Week 5 matchup against Denver postponed following four positive coronavirus tests by players. “This decision was made in consultation with the NFL and medical officials,” the team said in a statement. They make sure that they know everyone is aware even if they catch you with your mask down a little bit, they’ll make sure you move it up.”The Falcons had seven players test positive during training camp.

The NFL has no plans to move into a bubble as it takes several new steps to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The Titans had eight people test positive Sept. 29 and the total reached 24 players and personnel. However, it doesn’t appear one of those options will be moving the playoffs into a bubble like Major League Baseball did. Sills said all options are on the table but warned there are several risks to moving into a bubble. He pointed out that other individuals such as service workers still have to go in and out of the bubble.

NEW YORK – The NFL is tightening up the league’s procedures for how teams go back to work following positive COVID-19 results after the Tennessee Titans’ outbreak postponed their game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The league sent a memo to all 32 teams Thursday and it was obtained by The Associated Press. It details new procedures to follow for any club dealing with an outbreak or exposure to COVID-19 or teams exposed to a club with an active outbreak. They noted the Titans’ outbreak this week included both players and non-players while potentially exposing Minnesota during their game last weekend. And teams and players will not be allowed to hold any gatherings or group activities away from the facility.

The NFL has updated its gameday protocols by requiring every coach and staff member in the bench area to wear a mask and reducing the size of each teams travel party. Owners also will have to follow COVID-19 testing requirements to gain access to the locker room, field or team charter. We have been really fortunate that cases of COVID-19 are very low across the league, Goodell said Tuesday. It is a testament to the plans, but most importantly to the diligence of the players, the teams and their staffs. I believe that we may be having a lot of teams that will start with no fans in the beginning this season, and then evolve to fans, Goodell said.

FILE - In this May 22, 2019, file photo, Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president, speaks to the media during the owners meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla. The NFL will consult an advisory committee made up of former coaches, general managers and players on such issues as postponing, moving or even canceling games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Vincent said Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 that the advisers, who will report to Commissioner Roger Goodell, will help avoid any inequities in those decisions. Vincent did not identify any members of the panel, saying he was awaiting their approval to do so. Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer, noted that setting firm schedules for anything during the pandemic is foolhardy.

FILE- In this Oct. 15, 2019, file photo, Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, speaks during a news conference at the at the football league's fall meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The NFL's chief medical officer says it's not surprising there have been positive tests for COVID-19 among players reporting to training camp because the disease is cutting across football just as it has through societies around the world. Players currently have to pass COVID-19 testing before they are allowed into training camp. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Sills preferred the term unconfirmed positive, saying signs of COVID-19 where there that did not pan out. I think all of us would like these tests to operate like a home pregnancy test, either positive or negative, said Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer. Sills said 75,000 tests have been performed since teams started reporting to NFL training camps and the vast majority have been negative. It's safe to say the overwhelming majority have been negative, Sills said. He said people can come down with the disease and months later yield positive tests when the virus is no longer in their system.

The NFL's chief medical officer says it's not surprising there have been positive tests for COVID-19 among players reporting to training camp. We all have a common enemy here with this virus, Sills said. The league is closely examining recent positive tests because some of them dont represent new infections. There are actually people whove been previously infected, he said, and there is a concept of persistent positive tests. Sills said the virus has hit people involved in all phases of football: owners, players, coaches, office staff and medical personnel.

Perhaps the biggest headlines Brady drew recently came when he defied players' union recommendations to cease informal practices with teammates as a coronavirus precaution. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)In seven weeks, the NFL expects to kick off its 101st season with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs hosting Houston. Still set on conducting a somewhat normal training camp, though without any preseason games, and then opening the regular season on time, the NFL pushes onward. We could have a ton of social distance, more than we have with our football team, Chiefs coach Andy Reid says. Perhaps the biggest headlines Brady drew recently came when he defied players' union recommendations to cease informal practices with teammates as a coronavirus precaution.

This photo provided by Oakley shows a new face shield designed by Oakley. The NFL and the players' union agreed to several protocols in a 42-page document last week, including team travel, media and treatment response. From the start, the NFL Players Association, their medical advisers, their engineers have been engaged with us. Weve also had dialogue with players along the way trying to look at early prototypes and developments.The face shield was designed by Oakley, which already provides visors for the players. The face shield has received a better response than the mask suggestion.