Jul 21, 2020 - Sports

59 NFL players have tested positive for coronavirus

An NFL logo.

Photo: Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

59 NFL players have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Tuesday, per the NFL Players Association.

Why it matters: The positive cases come amid negotiations between the league and players' association over what the preseason and regular season will look like during the pandemic, Axios' Kendall Baker reports. On Tuesday, the NFL agreed to have no preseason games in 2020.

The big picture: The player association is asking the league for daily testing for players and a 45-day "ramp-up" period before the season starts.

  • The NFL wants two preseason games and hasn't agreed to the "ramp-up" period.
  • Over the weekend, NFL players used the hashtag #WeWantToPlay to criticize the league's lack of detailed health and safety protocols for the upcoming season.
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