Yahoo Finance Report: Two more Titans test positive for COVID-19, Sunday's game in jeopardy
Two more Tennessee Titans players have tested positive for COVID-19, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The positives reportedly came from Tuesday’s round of testing, and the team received the results on Wednesday.
Both #Titans positives are players, per source. Their facility will not reopen. https://t.co/Z5s7GbWcMI
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2020
This is a setback for the Titans, the first NFL team to deal with a serious outbreak. After more than a full week of having at least one reported positive test per day, they’d received no positive tests on Monday and Tuesday. If the positive tests on Sunday had been the last ones, they could have opened up their facility on Wednesday, returned to practice, and played their Week 5 game.
Now they’re right back where they were last week, and looking at a second straight week of disruption.
Corey Davis placed on COVID-19/reserve list
On Wednesday, the team placed wide receiver Corey Davis on the COVID-19/reserve list.
The #Titans placed WR Corey Davis on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2020
Neither the Titans nor Davis has confirmed he tested positive for coronavirus. A player does not need to test positive to wind up on the COVID-19/reserve list. A player can be placed on that list if they’ve been in contact with someone who tested positive.
The Titans did not place a second player on the COVID-19/reserve list Wednesday. The team reportedly believes the second positive test may have been inconclusive, and is working to confirm whether that’s the case.
A second positive test result this morning for the #Titans is currently considered inconclusive, I'm told. Still going through process to confirm (or not). That's why only Davis went on the list for the #Titans today. https://t.co/qBCi8Y8sI9
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2020
Game vs. Bills could be in jeopardy
With the Titans having two more reported positives on Wednesday, the reopening of their facility is almost certainly on hold. If their facility remains closed and practices continue to be suspended, it’s hard to see how they’ll be able to play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday — and at the Titans’ Nissan Stadium, no less. It’s possible that game will need to be rescheduled.
The Titans have already had one game rescheduled due to their team outbreak. Their Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was postponed and moved to Week 7, when hopefully the team will be clear of this outbreak. The NFL was able to manage that emergency schedule switch, but with a quarter of the season already over, it’s going to get harder for the NFL to make easy swaps. They’re already in hot water with the Bills-Titans matchup because of the Bills’ future schedule.
The #Titans are in a difficult position for many reasons. The #Bills play next Thursday night against the Chiefs. Moving Bills/Titans game to Monday seems impossible with this schedule. Canceling or forfeiting may be the only options.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) October 7, 2020
The NFL is in uncharted territory, and it’s not going to get any easier from here.
Were Titans players working out together?
Pelissero reported on Wednesday that the NFL and NFLPA are looking into whether Titans players violated the COVID-19 protocols by working out together while the team facility was closed.
The NFL and NFLPA are looking into whether #Titans players have been working out together offsite while the facility was closed due to their COVID-19 outbreak, per sources.
Two more players learned of positive tests today, bringing the total to 20 cases among players and staff.— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2020
The NFL and NFLPA were already reportedly investigating the Titans last week, determining whether or not their team outbreak was caused by ignoring the protocols. The NFL announced on Monday that teams will have to forfeit a game if they’re unable to play due to a COVID-19 outbreak caused by breaking protocol.
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