'Hard Knocks' Recap: Rams, Chargers Prepare for Uncharted Waters

The 15th season of HBO's hit docuseries in some ways felt like a small return to normalcy amid abnormal times, a key sign that the return of the NFL is not far off. But this season was always destined to be different from previous iterations, and Tuesday's premiere made that abundantly clear. The typical first-episode talks of roster decisions, offseason storylines and expectations for the coming year were mostly pushed aside for COVID-19 testing, physically distanced practices and social justice discussions.

The season debuted on the same day the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced they were canceling the fall football season, which might not directly impact the NFL, but it's a signal that nothing…