Three Teams Record Positive COVID Tests
Matthew Sparrow
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The NFL received some very chilling news on Wednesday morning: at least one player from the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, and Las Vegas Raiders tested positive for COVID-19. While the circumstances surrounding each positive test vary from team to team, the rising number of cases have huge implications for this weekend’s matchups and could potentially jeopardize a full 16-game season.
The positive cases by two Titans players are perhaps the most backbreaking of the bunch. That brings the total to 22 members of the organization that have tested positive for COVID since September 24th, including 11 players.
Despite last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers getting postponed and moved to Week 7, the Titans were hopeful to return to the field this week against the Buffalo Bills, especially after two consecutive days with negative tests. However, Wednesday’s results threw a wrench into those plans as the Titans won’t be able to reopen their facilities as scheduled.
The original source of the outbreak remains unknown, but the NFL is trying to get to the bottom of it. The league and the Players Association recently announced that they are looking into whether or not the Titans violated coronavirus protocols. It’s unclear what the investigation will yield, but if the team is found guilty of breaking the rules, they are likely to face harsh consequences as a warning to the rest of the league that the NFL means business.
Reining Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore also tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the third member of the Patriots organization to do so. The team canceled the day’s practice as a precautionary measure and awaits further word from the NFL.
Cam Newton, the Patriots starting quarterback, received a positive test on Friday, causing him to sit out Monday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs (after it was pushed back a day to make sure no new positive cases arose). New England went with Brian Hoyer to start against the Chiefs, but a shaky performance prompted a switch to 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham.
Gilmore was on the field for every defensive snap on Monday. The team took two planes to Kansas City the day of the game, with Gilmore on the one with players that had close contact with Newton. Gilmore was seen hugging last season’s Super Bowl MVP, Patrick Mahomes, after the game. Increased testing and restrictions for both teams will likely be enforced.
Finally, the Las Vegas Raiders had defensive tackle Maurice Hurst test positive on Wednesday as well. Hurst was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday with his diagnosis coming to light the next day. Despite the result, the Raiders plan to have their facilities open for practice as usual.
The positive case comes on the heels of Monday’s news that the NFL had fined ten Raiders a combined $165,000 for failure to comply with coronavirus regulations. At a charity fundraiser hosted by tight end Darren Waller, the players reportedly didn’t wear masks or follow social distancing measures. Hurst was not present at the event.
The NFL is on the brink of a crisis. If the players continue to disregard the strict rules implemented by the league, the number of cases will continue to increase. Without a change in behavior or even harsher protocols, the season may be beyond saving.