The NFL stated in a memo on Thursday that groups that have an outbreak of COVID-19 in the course of the 2021 season could also be pressured to forfeit a recreation.

The memo, obtained by NFL Community, the Washington Submit and Sports activities Illustrated, signifies that if a recreation is postponed or canceled over a workforce’s COVID-19 outbreak amongst unvaccinated gamers and that recreation can’t be rescheduled throughout the 18-week common season, that workforce will likely be pressured to forfeit the sport.

The memo additionally notes that ought to a recreation be forfeited as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak, neither workforce’s gamers would obtain their wage for that week.

The memo additionally notes that ought to vaccinated gamers take a look at optimistic for the virus, the league will “try to reduce the aggressive and financial burden on each taking part groups.”

The league additionally informed groups on Thursday that vaccinated gamers who take a look at optimistic for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic can return to common actions after unfavourable exams on back-to-back days. Unvaccinated gamers are nonetheless required to stay in isolation for no less than 10 days earlier than returning to workforce actions.

Thursday’s memo was the newest step the NFL has taken to encourage gamers and coaches to get vaccinated. In June, the league and the gamers union agreed to guidelines that lifted many COVID-19 restrictions for vaccinated gamers however saved such limits in place for unvaccinated gamers.

Based on the agreed-upon pointers, unvaccinated gamers will likely be topic to day by day COVID-19 testing, continued masks use in amenities and through coaching, and off-the-field journey restrictions. Vaccinated gamers usually are not required to comply with these pointers.

The NFL accomplished its complete common and postseason in 2020 amid the pandemic with out canceling any video games. Nonetheless, based on Sports activities Illustrated, 18 video games have been rescheduled as a result of COVID-19 outbreaks. As well as, a number of groups final 12 months have been put at aggressive disadvantages when outbreaks prompted complete place teams to be sidelined.