Player OTA participation still hinges on COVID-19 protocols

Whether the Denver Broncos players hit the practice fields at UCHealth Training Center this offseason likely still comes down to the COVID-19 protocols in place.

On Tuesday, the Broncos players voted to voluntarily skip offseason workouts, which are slated to start on Monday, out of concern for the COVID-19 safety protocols put in place by the NFL.

A statement on behalf of the Denver Broncos players: pic.twitter.com/b7ZQZ1Z7PY

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) April 13, 2021

In a response Wednesday, the league outlined its offseason program, which runs nine weeks from April 19 to June 18, in a memo to all 32 teams.

The first phase of the program runs four weeks from April 19 to May 14 and includes virtual meetings for two hours per day, prohibits on-field drills or work with coaches and maintains facility room capacity limits.

However, Broncos kicker and player representative Brandon McManus told “Stokley & Zach” on Wednesday that between capacity and time limits, it’s “mathematically impossible to execute” the protocols safely.

“We as the Broncos are fine with doing the virtual meetings. We see a lot of value in that. (We can) continue to grow in the offense and defense and get better in that sense,” McManus said. “But we feel though there’s not any protocols in place to come back strictly just to work out.”

In a letter on Wednesday, the NFL Players Association’s leadership reiterated the stance that it’s the “safest decision” for players to not attend any in-person activities.

“As players are making informed decisions about exercising their rights to not participate in the voluntary offseason program, it is our recommendation that due to the injury data, continued threat of COVID-19 and the lack of a comprehensive plan to protect players, that the safest decision would be to not attend any in-person club organized activities at your club,” said the letter signed by NFLPA President J.C. Tretter and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith.

McManus, however, said that the situation is “fluid,” leaving the door for players to potentially return for OTAs should protocol issues get worked out.

“We’ll reconvene as a team, and we made that statement based off the information we had at that time,” McManus told “Stokley & Zach.” “So, I think this whole thing’s fluid.”

Per Pro Football Talk, the Broncos have set up a vaccination event for next Wednesday wherein players, coaches, staffers and any adult family members who live with them can receive a Pfizer vaccine — with second shots available on May 13.

The Broncos will also hold a virtual educational seminar, hosted by infectious disease expert Dr. Michelle Barron, in an effort to make sure everyone involved knows the vaccine is safe and effective.

And though McManus cautioned that it would be “unethical” to force a vaccine on a player, it would be something that would “definitely help make it safer” for players to participate.

“Obviously, with the vaccines coming out, it will help. And a lot of our players are now of the age group to do that,” McManus said.