Jamie Nye: NFL puts its COVID-19 protocols to the test

COVID-19 has arrived in the National Football League.

The Tennessee Titans are the first team to deal with the illness and the implications of an outbreak could be far-reaching. Thankfully, their opponent three days ago, the Minnesota Vikings, haven’t seen any players or personnel test positive.

The NFL opted to use a plan like the one by Major League Baseball, playing and practising, with travel, outside of bubbles. It’s risky but the MLB proved it can be done as teams will make their way into playoff bubbles in the coming days.

Maybe the NFL will do the same come January but it needs to use this as a teaching moment as baseball did with its multiple outbreaks.

The message: If everybody wants to get to a Super Bowl, they’re going to have to do what every other person in North America has to do to keep their families safe – stay in small individual bubbles with the necessary precautions.

Baseball finished the season extremely well but it will be a four-month nailbiter for the NFL to see if it can get to the finish line.