HOUSTON – Texans defensive end JJ Watt said Wednesday that it is too early for players to decide if they will play this season given the many unknowns that remain with the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have participated in NFLPA calls the last two times,” said Watt during a conference call when asked if he had decided to play. “I don’t think we’re anywhere … I don’t think we’re even at the point where people are making this decision because we don’t have enough information yet to make such decisions. I think so it’s a very fluid process, and I think it keeps coming up. Obviously … the date of the report is getting closer and closer. But for now, we really don’t have enough information to make a decision like that, I would say. “
The Texans will show up at training camp on July 25. They are scheduled to open the season with the Kansas City Chiefs on September 10.
Watt was asked if he thought it was necessary to play preseason games. The league has canceled the NFL Hall of Fame opening game and shortened the pre-season by four teams to two to help players get used to returning to the field after completing a training program. ‘virtual offseason. Last week, a source told ESPN that the NFL Players Association council of player representatives had voted to recommend the cancellation of all 2020 preseason games.
“If the doctors and the PA doctors decide that it is not in the best interests of the players’ safety to have them, then we don’t have to do it,” said Watt. “But I also think at the same time of the undrafted guys and the guys training in the fourth pre-season game and how special it is and how many chances would be missed. So I’m on both sides of the barrier.”
“I obviously think as a veterinarian, personally, I think that pre-season games for someone like me are absolutely necessary? I would say, I don’t think so. But I think there is a whole bunch of people who need these opportunities and who live for those opportunities. I mean, it can literally change a life. So I see, I see the other side of it where someone could literally see their dream come true achieve through these games, so it’s a very difficult debate to have. “
Watt said he hoped the NFL would watch the way the other leagues work in their attempts to return to the game.
“We are in unknown territory,” said Watt. “Everyone is. So, whether it’s the NBA, whether it’s MLB, whether it’s NWSL, whoever it is. We’re in unfamiliar waters right now. So everyone should be watching, watching and observe what everyone is doing to see what is working, what is not working and needs to be tweaked because we all go through this stuff together.
“Look, everyone wants sport. We all want sport. But we also want it to be as safe as possible. So learn from other people’s experiences and try to tweak it and do it the best we can for the time being. moving around is very important [thing] make. So obviously we hope we can learn from them and get better and we hope they are successful with theirs because we all want to watch sports. We just want to make sure it’s safe. “
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