The National Football League and the NFL Players Association have updated protocols related to COVID-19 in an effort to ease restrictions for fully vaccinated players and to encourage injection of the vaccine among others .
Unvaccinated players should continue to be tested on a daily basis, wear a mask and observe physical distancing. They will not be allowed to have lunch with their teammates, may not participate in media and marketing activities while traveling, are not permitted to use the sauna or steam rooms, or to leave the room. team hotel or interact with people not associated with the club while traveling.
Vaccinated players will not be subject to any of these restrictions, according to a note sent to teams on Wednesday, a copy of which the Associated Press obtained.
In addition, access to the press gallery, the pitch, the sidelines, the locker room and the post-match press conference room will only be granted to journalists who have been fully vaccinated.
Several players have expressed concern about receiving the vaccine. Updating protocols is an additional incentive to encourage them to be vaccinated.