The NFL and NLPA are in conflict over the use of wristbands to identify unvaccinated players, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Multiple teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, have been using brightly-colored wristbands to identify players that have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
With the rest of the NFL’s veterans set to report to training camp on Tuesday, that practice has become a source of contention.
“The NFL is allowing clubs to to make players wear bright colored wristbands, which the NFLPA believes is unnecessary,” Schefter wrote.
Three players — Cleveland rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramaoah, Detroit tackle Evan Heim and Indianapolis defensive tackle Robert Windsor — were placed on their teams’ COVID-19 reserve lists on Sunday.
The NFL has implemented relaxed COVID-19 mitigation rules for players that have been vaccinated. Those players that have not been vaccinated still need to be wearing masks in the team’s facilities and socially distancing outside of practice times. The wristbands serve to identify the players that still must follow the more-stringent guidelines.