No preseason games could mean sloppy start for special teams
FILE - Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, right, talks with special teams coach Craig Aukerman during NFL football training camp Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Coaches around the NFL aren't quite sure what they'll get starting Thursday night when the 2020 season kicks off. The pandemic led to the league and players agreeing to limit potential exposure by wiping out all four preseason games, and that took away the ability to hone timing for special teams. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, Pool, File)

FILE - Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, right, talks with special teams coach Craig Aukerman during NFL football training camp Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Coaches around the NFL aren't quite sure what they'll get starting Thursday night when the 2020 season kicks off. The pandemic led to the league and players agreeing to limit potential exposure by wiping out all four preseason games, and that took away the ability to hone timing for special teams. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, Pool, File)

Sep. 07, 2020 11:50 AM EDT
FILE - Tennessee Titans defensive back Joshua Kalu (46) blocks a 52-yard field goal attempt by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) on the final play of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Coaches around the NFL aren't quite sure what they'll get starting Thursday night when the 2020 season kicks off. The pandemic led to the league and players agreeing to limit potential exposure by wiping out all four preseason games, and that took away the ability to hone timing for special teams. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)

FILE - Tennessee Titans defensive back Joshua Kalu (46) blocks a 52-yard field goal attempt by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) on the final play of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Coaches around the NFL aren't quite sure what they'll get starting Thursday night when the 2020 season kicks off. The pandemic led to the league and players agreeing to limit potential exposure by wiping out all four preseason games, and that took away the ability to hone timing for special teams. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)

Sep. 07, 2020 11:55 AM EDT
FILE - Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel tries to strip the ball out of the hands of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) during an NFL football training camp in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. Coaches around the NFL aren't quite sure what they'll get starting Thursday night when the 2020 season kicks off. The pandemic led to the league and players agreeing to limit potential exposure by wiping out all four preseason games, and that took away the ability to hone timing for special teams. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)

FILE - Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel tries to strip the ball out of the hands of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) during an NFL football training camp in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. Coaches around the NFL aren't quite sure what they'll get starting Thursday night when the 2020 season kicks off. The pandemic led to the league and players agreeing to limit potential exposure by wiping out all four preseason games, and that took away the ability to hone timing for special teams. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)

Sep. 07, 2020 11:49 AM EDT
FILE - Chicago Bears' Cordarrelle Patterson hits Green Bay Packers' Tramon Williams on a punt during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. Patterson was called for fair catch interference. Coaches around the NFL aren't quite sure what they'll get starting Thursday night when the 2020 season kicks off. The pandemic led to the league and players agreeing to limit potential exposure by wiping out all four preseason games, and that took away the ability to hone timing for special teams. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)

FILE - Chicago Bears' Cordarrelle Patterson hits Green Bay Packers' Tramon Williams on a punt during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. Patterson was called for fair catch interference. Coaches around the NFL aren't quite sure what they'll get starting Thursday night when the 2020 season kicks off. The pandemic led to the league and players agreeing to limit potential exposure by wiping out all four preseason games, and that took away the ability to hone timing for special teams. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)

Sep. 07, 2020 11:56 AM EDT