Jaguars HC Doug Pederson shares stance on proposed changes to OTAs

The NFL would like to do away with Organized Team Activities, noting that it would potentially decrease the number of soft tissue injuries. Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was asked what his thoughts were in the proposal in his latest exchange with the local media.

Pederson says that he's fine with the NFL getting rid of OTAs and expanding training camp if it has a positive impact in player's safety.

"The offseason is great to build a foundation and see your young players and it goes back to developmental piece of your young guys," Pederson told the media. "This is the time where you want to start that foundation. The players probably wouldn't like training camp being extended, as long enough as it is. Anything that we do, if it helps the game, and if it helps better the game and it's moving the game forward, I'm all for that."

The NFL season wants to eliminate voluntary workouts in the offseason and increase the duration of training camp, with players potentially reporting in mid-June to early July. If the initiative passes, it will be implemented starting in 2025.

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson discussed wearing guardian caps in the regular season

Doug Pederson was asked in the same news conference what his stance was on players wearing guarding caps in the regular season. He says that it would be up to the players, pointing out that there's no NFL without them.

"I think the guardian caps are a good addition, especially in training camp when we're in pads.
It does protect against head concussions and things like that and has reduced some of those injuries. Proposing that they can use them in games and things of that nature, I think it's a player preference at that point. I don't know what that would necessarily look like on a player in a game, but it's all about player safety."

Pederson continued, "And that's one thing that the league has been big on. We've been big on, supporting that and you don't have a league if you don't have players and we got to keep our players healthy and that's a big part."

The guardian caps debuted in 2022. Players wear them on their helmets to decrease the rate of head-related injuries. Given the sucess they've had, the league amended their rules to allow players to wear them during the regular season.

While players aren't fond of them, data backs up the assesment that they reduce the risk of head injuries, so that could incentivize their widespread use.

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