Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins, Murray voice concerns over NFL safety plan

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and quarterback Kyler Murray joined in with athletes from across the NFL calling on the league to address its safety protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Using #WeWantToPlay on social media platforms on Sunday, Hopkins, Murray and others voiced their concerns about the NFL not having a clear plan for player health and family safety.

Do y’all want to see this??

Before players can go back to work the @NFL needs to address the health and safety concerns from their own experts so we can remain healthy. If you want the @AZCardinals to have a full season this year help us by telling the @NFL! #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/CErsyZJb1A

— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) July 19, 2020

“Do y’all want to see this?” Hopkins said with a photo of he and Murray. “Before players can go back to work the NFL needs to address the health and safety concerns from their experts so we can remain healthy.

“If you want the Cardinals to have a full season this year help us by telling the NFL! #WeWantToPlay.”

Murray shared the same sentiment.

It’s crazy to hear the NFL has yet to address major health and safety issues with training camp being 2 weeks away. We want to play football. Make it happen @NFL. Keep us safe!#WeWantToPlay

— Kyler Murray (@K1) July 19, 2020

“It’s crazy to hear the NFL has yet to address major health and safety issues with training camp being two weeks away,” Murray said on Twitter.

“Make it happen, NFL. Keep us safe! #WeWantToPlay.”

The response from NFL players comes a day after the league announced training camp dates for the 2020-21 season. Rookies are to report Tuesday, quarterbacks and injured players arrive to camps Thursday. All other players are to report to camp on July 28.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said that not only are the players in the dark about coronavirus testing, they’re unsure what the league plans to do in handling positive cases or if the NFL will provide a strong and fair opt-out clause for those with families at high risk.

From a playing standpoint, Watt added players still “have not been granted the full and proper training camp acclimation period necessary as recommended by the medical and training staffs” and they don’t know if preseason games will even be played this season.

Once again in the interest of keeping everyone (players & fans) as informed as possible, here is an updated list of what we as players know and don’t know as the first group gets set to report to training camp tomorrow.#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/xQcjs33zgM

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 19, 2020

Former Cardinal and current Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu used his recent Super Bowl win to help put things in perspective.

“Being a champion made me realize how important team is and also how important our families are to our team success,” Mathieu said. “It’s a family game. #WeWantToPlay so let’s find a way to protect us players & our families.”

Below are some of the other responses from around the league:

If #AdamSilver can respect the voices and protect his @NBA players why can’t @NFLcommish do the same? Listen to your players. If we want to have a full season it will have to look different with OUR safety as the priority. @NFL make the necessary changes. #WeWantToPlay

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) July 19, 2020

I am concerned.
My wife is pregnant.@NFL Training camp is about to start..

And there’s still No Clear Plan on Player Health & Family Safety. 🤷🏾

We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones. #WeWantToPlay

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 19, 2020

What you are seeing today is our guys standing up for each other and for the work their union leadership has done to keep everyone as safe as possible. The NFL needs to listen to our union and adopt the experts’ recommendations #wewanttoplay

— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) July 19, 2020

You want to watch football this year? Us players need to remain healthy in order to make that happen. The @NFL needs to do their part in order to bring football back safely in 2020. #WeWantToPlay

— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) July 19, 2020

It blows my mind that the NFL is unwilling to follow the recommendations of their own experts regarding player health and safety. If we want to have a FULL season this year we need the NFL to listen to their experts!   #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/q55RpqRzPu

— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) July 19, 2020

Crazy to see how the NFL is not following the recommendations of its own experts regarding health and safety for Us as players! As of today questions have not been answered and we want to play football. Y’all want to watch football this year?#WeWantToPlay

— Jarvis Juice Landry (@God_Son80) July 19, 2020

Playing football and feeling safe at work SHOULD NOT be mutually exclusive! Time is running down and we need answers #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/YPboNL47Mf

— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) July 19, 2020

We need Football! We need sports! We need hope! The NFL’s unwillingness to follow the recommendations of their own medical experts will prevent that. If the NFL doesn’t do their part to keep players healthy there is no football in 2020. It’s that simple. Get it done @NFL

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) July 19, 2020

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