Bucs among several teams that won’t participate in voluntary offseason workouts

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff will not have any players to evaluate for OTAs. Nor will a few other teams across the league.

Under the leadership of the NFLPA, the Bucs, Broncos, Seahawks, Lions, and Patriots will not be taking part in OTAs this offseason. This comes after NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and union president JC Tretter sent a letter advising players not to attend any voluntary workouts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is the recommendation of the NFLPA based on our medical experts’ advice that if the voluntary offseason program is in person, players should not attend,” Smith and Tretter said in their letter to players, via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero through CBS Sports. “Therefore, as teams host calls to discuss these issues we urge that all players consider their own health and safety, make a personal decision about attending voluntary workouts and take into consideration the unanimous recommendation of the NFLPA COVID committee that we have an entirely virtual offseason.”

The league isn’t a stranger to this as last offseason teams were unable to hold workouts due to the pandemic.

Pelissero shared the statement from the Buccaneers, citing concerns over the ongoing Coronavirus.