Since recently returning to the team’s’ practice facility in Santa Clara, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he is a lot more optimistic that the NFL season can happen.
Shanahan said during an appearance on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast that he is impressed with the changes that have occurred at the 49ers’ headquarters.
“Since we’ve been back in here and I’ve seen our protocols and how they have this building, it makes me truly believe we can pull this off,” Shanahan said.
Rookies, quarterbacks and injured players reported to Santa Clara on Thursday for the first round of coronavirus testing at the team’s practice facility. After another round of testing on Sunday, those who had two negative tests will be able to report back to work on Monday. The first round of testing for all other players is scheduled for July 28.
[49ERS INSIDER PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]
The team’s practice facility has undergone a lot of changes designed to curb the spread of the virus. Shanahan said many walls have been knocked down to allow for greater social distancing inside meeting rooms.
Ben Peterson, the 49ers’ head of player health & performance, along with Dustin Perry, the team’s head strength and conditioning coach, have led the 49ers’ efforts to reorganize in preparation for the return of players, coaches and staff members during the pandemic.
“What they have put into this to allow us to practice, it’s unbelievable,” Shanahan said.
The biggest unanswered questions for Shanahan are the rules that will be set into place for training camp workouts. Each NFL is allowed to have a 90-man roster during the offseason and training camp, but that number might shrink to 80 players for training camp this year.
[RELATED: 49ers get Santa Clara County’s OK to begin camp on time]
Even then, Shanahan said he is not sure if 80 players will be necessary for teams with no preseason games this summer.
“We’re kind of in limbo here as coaches,” Shanahan said. “Our building is set up to do this. But, now, I have got to get the rulebook by practice hours and stuff like that so we can set up a plan.
“It will be different. It’s totally going to be different. … (But) I’m excited to try to pull it off. And I’m so much more optimistic after getting in here and seeing how these buildings are.”
49ers’ Kyle Shanahan more confident than ever NFL can pull off season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
