NFL doctors discontinuing physicals during health crisis

The president of the NFL Physicians Society has told the league and the players' association that physicals will be discontinued until the current health crisis has passed.

A statement from Dr. Anthony Casolaro says the society "has agreed to discontinue combine rechecks, free-agent physicals, and physicals for non-combine players."

"We believe it is not in the interest of the players nor team medical staff to continue to perform these physicals," wrote Casolaro, who's also the co-head physician for the Washington Redskins.

"At a time of the most serious pandemic in our lifetime, we believe medical resources should focus on those who are ill or in need of care. We look forward to examining players when it is appropriate to do so."

The discontinuation of physicals could halt movement during free agency, as players - especially those who are coming off injuries - are subject to medical examinations before signing with new teams.

The coronavirus pandemic had already forced teams to stop conducting physicals at their own facilities. Instead, players have been evaluated by agreed-upon third-party physicians.

The lack of physicals could also play a major role in the 2020 draft. Projected early pick Tua Tagovailoa had his college season ended by a fractured hip in November. He did not participate at the combine and was set to undergo medical rechecks at his pro day.