Cincinnati Bengals rookies face unique challenges preparing for their NFL debuts. Including challenges that NFL rookies have never faced before. The consequences could leave a significant impact on this upcoming Bengals season.

COVID-19 is the top challenge for rookies and the league overall. The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting many changes to the preseason calendar. While throwing the upcoming season into a state of uncertainty. The pandemic is causing players to contemplate sitting this season out. Raising player safety concerns; for a league and sport often beset by such concerns.

Second, rookies and veterans will face challenges preventing or containing outbreaks. Similar to Major League Baseball, the NFL isn’t playing in a neutral site bubble. The outbreak within the Miami Marlins organization highlights the challenges teams face. Marlins CEO Derek Jeter blamed their outbreak on players “letting their guard down.” Not social distancing or wearing masks outside of their hotel.

Without internal enforcement of safety protocols or everyone taking the protocols seriously. The NFL will face the kinds of issues that MLB is facing now. The NFL is planning for a traditional regular season format with no bubble. Given the close contact ingrained in the nature of football. A Marlins-like outbreak could be even more disastrous for the NFL.

The third major challenge is not having preseason games. This week was originally set to be the start of the NFL Preseason. Through the playing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. That game was cancelled several weeks ago. The rest of the preseason was cancelled a few weeks later.

While these exhibitions aren’t usually a high priority for many fans. For rookies, it’s their first substantive taste of NFL action. These exhibitions also help thin down and set the regular season roster. No preseason games will uniquely impact Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow. He will go into Week 1 as the Bengals new franchise quarterback. Without having the preparation a top overall draft pick typically gets. He and his fellow 2020 Bengals draft classmates are facing a baptism by five-alarm fire.

The atypically slow rolling pace of this year’s training camp adds fuel to that fire. While training camp began around the time it usually does. Bengals players wont even start full contact practices until August 17th. Normally, teams would’ve already had such practices by then. Along with inter-squad scrimmages and an already completed preseason game.

Even though these changes are effecting all players. Rookies throughout the league are being thrown into a metaphorical lions den. Navigating through both traditional and unprecedented challenges. Having their endurance tested in ways two-a-day practices can’t match.