NFL Suffers First COVID-19 Outbreak
Sep 29, 2020, 9:06 AM | Updated: Oct 2, 2020, 9:14 am
LANDOVER - NOVEMBER 26: The official football for the National Football League, with the signature of new commissioner Roger Goodell, sits within the NFL logo painted on the field prior to a game on November 26, 2006 between the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Redskins at Fedex Field in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images)
(Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images)
Eight members of the Tennessee Titans have tested positive for COVID-19
UPDATE (10/2/20)
Due to more reported positive tests within the Tennessee Titans organization, this week’s game between the Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers has been rescheduled to later this season, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The NFL is eyeing a makeup date sometime during Week 7 or Week 8, according to Schefter.
UPDATE (9/30/20):
Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans has been postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Titans organization.
Per Dianna Russini of ESPN, the NFL will attempt to reschedule the game on Monday night after testing results come back from the Titans.
It was reported on Tuesday morning that eight members of the Tennessee Titans had tested positive for COVID-19. The Titans and their opponent from Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings, have closed their training facilities until further testing has been administered.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network shared a release from the NFL on Wednesday morning that stated the game would be made up on Monday (October 5th) or Tuesday (October 6th).
——————————————————————————————————————–
Major League Baseball’s beginning to the season was marred by the outbreaks of COVID-19, causing plenty of schedule disruptions and threats to the wellbeing’s of several athletes.
According to multiple reports, the National Football League has suffered its own disruption after three seemingly clean weeks of action.
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Tennessee Titans have had eight-members of the franchise test positive for COVID-19–three players and five members of team personnel.
Tennessee will be closing all team facilities until Saturday at the earliest, while the Minnesota Vikings–the Titan’s opponent from Sunday–will also be closing their facilities until further notice.
Minnesota has reported no positive COVID-19 tests as of Tuesday morning, per Pelissero.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to face the Titans on Sunday.
Team spokesman Burt Lauten released the following statement on Tuesday: “We have been in contact with the NFL regarding the positive COVID-19 tests with the Tennessee Titans. We have been informed to proceed with our game preparations for Sunday’s game until we are informed otherwise.”
Until Tuesday’s news of the positive tests, the NFL had been in the midst of a successful beginning to the season–one that has included new safety protocols and limited-to-no fans in the seats.
Hopefully, the Titans outbreak is contained to those already impacted and all members of the franchise experience a speedy recovery.
This story will be updated as more information is released regarding the situation.
