Here’s a look inside the NFL’s COVID-19 rules. Also, the playoffs could be in a bubble.

With each passing day in our COVID-19 world, we get more clarity on what the start of the 2020 NFL season is going to look like with regards to game-day protocols agreed upon by the NFL and NFL Players Association.

And there are many health and safety guidelines, some more impactful than others.

▪ The participating teams (and their essential traveling parties) will be required to stay at team hotels in the game city the night before in order to ensure they can be administered the necessary screening and testing.

▪ Additionally, meals at the hotels must be provided by on-site vendors to players/coaches in their rooms whenever possible to limit trips to public markets. Self-serve buffets are prohibited. Members of the traveling party may order hotel room service or enlist third-party food services to the room with contactless delivery.

▪ There will be no on-field entertainment in terms of cheerleaders, mascots or flag-runners. But smoke tunnels used for pregame player introductions are permissible.

▪ In game, on-field camera-people can’t get closer than four yards from the players.

▪ Players and coaches are encouraged to wear masks on the field but they are not required. Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians plans to wear a mask under his face shield while on the sideline.

▪ Benches will be cleaned constantly and game balls will be sanitized in accordance with Wilson guidelines.

▪ Players no longer can exchange jerseys after the game.

▪ No media will be allowed in locker rooms.

▪ The NFL is considering allowing teams to pump in crowd noise at stadiums where no fans are allowed, including the Week 1 game between the Saints and Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (Sept. 13, 3:25 p.m., Fox). I suspect Saints officials will play a taped version of the traditional pre-game Who Dat crowd chant triggered by a player prior to kickoff.

In other Saints related news:

▪ The NFL is exploring the possibility of having the 2020 playoffs played inside a bubble, in cities with a warm climate and/or domed stadiums to minimize the chance of postponements, an outside-the-box idea first broached by Saints coach Sean Payton to the league’s competition committee.

The Saints and other teams are implementing the usage of a ‘‘soft bubble’‘ during training camp by providing voluntary housing in hotels for players, coaches and essential team personnel.

▪ It may be touch and go for starting LG Andrus Peat to be ready for the season opener after he recently suffered a broken thumb. Peat signed a five-year, $57.5 million contract extension during the offseason. Nick Easton has replaced Peat in the starting lineup.

▪ With news that the Detroit Lions will not allow fans to attend their game against the Saints at Ford Field on Oct. 4, the Black and Gold are facing the possibility of playing in empty stadiums through the first four quarter of the season. A decision is forthcoming whether fans will be barred from the Saints home game against Green Bay in Week 3 (Sept. 27, 7:20 p.m., NBC). One thing is certain: the Mercedes-Benz Superdome will be at less than capacity.

▪ And finally, team officials have begun preliminary contract talks with the agent for duel threat running back Alvin Kamara, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. His current market value is estimated to be just under $60 million over four years, according to Spotrac.

This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 2:27 PM.