It is possible that the 2020 NFL season will have to take place without spectators in the stadiums. But for Kirk Cousins this doesn’t have to be a negative thing. After all, he already knows this from the training sessions.

There are still a few days to go before the NFL season starts on September 10th, but an end to the corona crisis is not yet in sight – especially not in the USA. So the NFL has to think early on how to deal with the 2020 season.

As in other sports, there are repeated discussions about letting the games take place without spectators in the stadiums. This would not only have financial implications, but also sporting ones, especially in the NFL. After all, in the NFL it is a great home advantage if the stadium becomes particularly loud when the opponent is in possession of the ball and communication within the offense is difficult.

Kirk Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback, can still imagine games without fans. He hasn’t thought too much about this scenario yet, but for some players it doesn’t have to be a big adjustment.

Kirk Cousins: “We can just play football
“Honestly, every day we train on an empty grass field and play fake spectator sounds to prepare for away games. You’re more used to playing without spectators,” cousins told ESPN.

“There are no spectators at the OTA units either, so just playing football would be kind of refreshing. Just to remind ourselves that we don’t need all these outside influences and pressures. We can just play football. As long as it’s about the game, I don’t have many complaints.”

Kirk Cousins: Home practice is going better than expected.
Even the currently unusual training circumstances do not bother him much. His home training is “surprisingly efficient” and he feels no worse than usual at this time of the off-season.

“I had my doubts, but I have enough equipment to keep me in pretty good shape at home. Physically I feel very good. It’s interesting to throw balls. Sometimes I play with my brother who comes by, sometimes with a neighbour or with anyone who is close by. My shoulder is already in training.”

Cousins would normally be willing to participate in the OTA units that would actually start this month. Instead, he will have to continue his training camp at home for a while – in familiar surroundings without spectators.