There has been an underlying fear that the NFL might not be able to start their coming season on time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some wonder if the season might get delayed until fans can be in the stands or will teams just play in empty stadiums? Those questions remain unanswered, but the Chicago Bears could be taking a critical step in the right direction within the next two or three weeks.

According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, the NFL is hoping for teams to be back in their main facilities by mid-to-late June. Head coaches will be allowed to enter first with players following a short time after. Much of this depends on how the medical staffs adhere to the undoubtedly strict guidelines to protecting people from the spread of the virus.

“With state governments eyeing an entry point for NFL franchises to resume offseason activities, sources tell Yahoo Sports that head coaches could return to team facilities as early as next week — with players potentially following in full-squad minicamps in mid to late June.

The sources told Yahoo Sports that if coaches resume their in-house work next week, minicamps including players could be scheduled as early as June 15 or as late as June 27, depending on COVID-19 data and whether a handful of franchises get a “go ahead” signal from state governments to resume full operations.”

Chicago Bears could stay on schedule for start of 2020 season

If this hopeful timeline does come to pass, it should keep the Bears on schedule for conducting all vital activities ahead of the regular season opener in Detroit. Training camp is set to begin at the end of July with the preseason to follow in August. This means fans will get to watch the highly-anticipated quarterback battle between Mitch Trubisky and new arrival Nick Foles.

Whether they can watch any of it live is another story. It’s still not certain if the Bears will be able to hold camps in Illinois due to ongoing restrictions. This could force them to seek an outside state that would allow larger gatherings. To say nothing of fans being allowed in stadiums for preseason games.