There's good news and bad news for football fans.
The bad news is that there's an official who says the NFL season may not happen this year... The good news? That official is not affiliated with the NFL in any way!
The assessment comes from infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci:
"Unless players are essentially in a bubble –- insulated from the community and they are tested nearly every day -– it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall," he told CNN. "If there is a second wave, which is certainly a possibility and which would be complicated by the predictable flu season, football may not happen this year."
But it seems like the NFL isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet...
According to CBS Sports, the league doesn't think it's "practical or appropriate to construct a bubble" in order to play. And Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer, released a statement on Thursday responding to Dr. Fauci's comments.
It reads, "We will make adjustments as necessary to meet the public health environment as we prepare to play the 2020 season as scheduled with increased protocols and safety measures for all players, personnel and attendees."
Check out more updates on the upcoming NFL season on Sports Illustrated.