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As the NFL has adjusted to the realities stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, the virtual offseason has been continuously extended to allow teams to get in work outside the facility.
Initially set to end on May 15, the league extended virtual programs first to May 29, then June 26—roughly a month before training camp is set to begin. Though teams can take their virtual offseason all the way up until the June 26 deadline, some have begun to end early, with the Bears wrapping up on Thursday.
Speaking to media on Thursday afternoon, Pete Carroll told reporters the Seahawks would follow suit, with plans to end their virtual offseason next week.
Pete Carroll says Seahawks will continue virtual workout program for one more week. Teams could go until June 26 but many are stopping this week.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) June 11, 2020
Carroll went on to confirm that the team wouldn’t be back in the Virginia Mason Athletic Center until training camp, but that Washington has given the team the all-clear to follow league guidelines.
Carroll says state has given the Seahawks the okay to follow NFL guidelines for returning to training camp, practices, etc.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) June 11, 2020
Carroll then echoed a common sentiment among coaches, saying he hoped to bring players in prior to camp to makeup for on-field time lost.
Carroll says hope is teams may be able to bring back players in mid-July or so for a period to get acclimated before camp officially begins. That's something that has been rumored and league and NFLPA will have to make a decision on.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) June 11, 2020
Finally, in discussing how the team would adjust when they are back in the building, Carroll mentioned the possibility of moving all team work, including meetings, outdoors.
Carroll says one change could be holding meetings outdoors during training camp with science showing that coronavirus spreads more quickly indoors.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) June 11, 2020
Seattle was set to open training camp in the last week of July, but expect more clarity and a more clear timeline in the coming weeks.