The Tennessee Titans have eight new COVID cases, three player, five personnel, according to this report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The #Titans had three new player positives and five new personnel positives for COVID-19, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. Both Titans and Vikings, who hosted them Sunday, will suspend in person club activities starting today.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 29, 2020
It’s not known who those players are. The team was without outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen, who calls the defensive players in-game, Sunday against Minnesota after he tested positive for the virus.
Assuming these aren’t false positives (update: they’re confirmed positives), this appears to be the first substantial team outbreak since the regular season began. ESPN’s Dianna Russini took the report a step further, indicating no players or coaches will be allowed in the building until Saturday, one day before the team’s scheduled matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A league source just texted me: "We are shutting Tennessee down until Saturday"
That means no Titans coaches or players can be in the building.— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) September 29, 2020
Unless something dramatic changes, it’s hard to imagine the Steelers/Titans game happening as scheduled if Tennessee isn’t able to practice, let alone be able to work inside their facility. It’s unclear what the alternative would be. The teams have different bye weeks. Tennessee is off Week 7, Pittsburgh off Week 8.
One option could be moving Steelers/Ravens Week 7 to Week 8. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have Week 8 byes. Then the Tennessee game could be played Week 7 during the Titans’ scheduled bye week. That would mean the Steelers’ bye would come Week 4 with the Ravens’ during Week 7.
Best solution for rearranging the Steelers/Titans schedule.
– Steelers/Titans don't play Sunday. Week 4 becomes Steelers' official bye week.
– Steelers/Ravens gets pushed from Week 7 to Week 8 (both teams have byes).
– Steelers/Titans play Week 7 (Titans scheduled bye).
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) September 29, 2020
After a predictable surge of cases as teams reported for training camp, NFL COVID cases have been extremely low the past month. Now, the NFL appears to make some difficult choices, just as MLB did in the early going. Only football doesn’t have the luxury of double-headers.
Update (10:41 AM): The league has issued a statement on the Titans’ outbreak of cases.
NFL statement on the #Vikings and #Titans suspending in-person club activities after eight positive COVID-19 cases with the Titans. pic.twitter.com/Fsj8yr0Xz9
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 29, 2020
UPDATE (11:37 AM): The Steelers have released an official statement.
This is from Steelers: “We have been in contact with the NFL regarding the positive COVID-19 tests with the Titans. We have been informed to proceed with our game preparations for Sunday’s game until we are informed otherwise. We will provide more information when available.”
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) September 29, 2020
Mike Tomlin’s noon press conference has been postponed until later today.
UPDATE: (3:00 PM): Maybe Monday night?
NFL wants to and intends to play the Titans-Steelers game as scheduled Sunday; one of the contingency plans to allow for additional testing and contact tracing to occur would be to move the game to Monday night, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 29, 2020
Closing comments because people do not know how to act.
