NFL teams are set to report to training camp at the end of July under a cloud of uncertainty as the country continues to see surges in cases of COVID-19. Despite all those questions in society currently, the NFL and Bills are planning to start the 2020 season on time.
But if and when players do take the field, the league will need to find a ways to help protect them as much as possible. And part of the solution might be a mouth shield.
The NFL and Oakley eyewear teamed up to produce a helmet that has a mouth covering on it to prevent coronavirus exposure during play. Here’s a look at the potential shield players might wear:
According to ESPN, the two L.A. teams, the Rams and Chargers, were the first to receive the mouth shields thanks to their proximity to Oakley’s headquarters. That report also explained how the mouth should could be implemented in the NFL:
Safety protocol negotiations are ongoing between the league and players. Currently, there is no mandate to wear a face shield, but the NFL’s medical experts are advocating for the use of the protective equipment.
“That’s certainly what we’re going to encourage,” said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer. “And we hope that we’re going to land on a product design that’s something that everyone would want to wear, because they’ll see the value and want that additional protection without any detriment to performance.”
For the most part, Bills players have remained relatively quiet about the upcoming season. A few have spoken out, and among those are safety Micah Hyde and new receiver Stefon Diggs. Hyde previously said that he’s talked to players across the league and there’s a faction of players that are concerned about resuming as things currently sit during the ongoing pandemic. Diggs sent out on social media that “he’d be lying if he said he’s comfortable” in regards to getting back on the field.
In regard to the shield specifically, some players have questioned it already. Among them is the Texans’ J.J. Watt. He made it clear that he would not be OK with wearing a mouth shield, saying if it is a league mandate, “I don’t think you’re gonna see me on the field.”
On the Bills’ front, only long snapper Reid Ferguson gave some insight into the issue. But as he lays it out, it’s an interesting viewpoint considering his job as a long snapper:
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