12:17pm: We have an update on Cam Newton to pass along. According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, Newton has yet to return the two consecutive negative tests required to return to action (video link). But now that the Pats’ game against the Broncos has been pushed to next week, he will have more time to get right.
10:37am: Assuming the Titans are able to play on Tuesday, the Broncos and Patriots will indeed play each other next Sunday, as Schefter tweets. The Broncos and Chargers will then play each other in Week 8, which was supposed to be when Denver had its bye, and the Dolphins will now play the Broncos in Week 11. However, the Jaguars have now been impacted by this mess, as they were supposed to play the Broncos in Week 8. So there is still more rearranging to be done.
08:35am: The Patriots had one new positive COVID-19 test this morning, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). It was a player who tested positive, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says that player was starting DT Byron Cowart. The team’s facility has been shut down again, more testing is being done, and Cowart will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list today.
Meanwhile, the Titans released a statement indicating that a coach tested positive. Their facility has been shut down as well, but as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports, that coach hasn’t been in the building for nearly two weeks (video link). As such, his positive test might be unrelated to the outbreak that has plagued the team, and contact tracing is being done as we speak.
New England and Tennessee just returned to their facilities yesterday after two consecutive days of negative tests. The Pats’ game against the Broncos this week had been pushed to Monday, and the Titans’ contest against the Bills was rescheduled for Tuesday, but now the Broncos-Patriots matchup has been moved to next Sunday (Twitter link via Schefter). New England and Denver will have their byes this week, and the league will need to reschedule the Broncos-Dolphins game that was originally slated for next week.
We heard several days ago that new positive tests were expected on the Patriots and Titans given the results of contact tracing on both clubs. The league was clear that additional positives would not necessarily mean the cancellation of games, and initial reports this morning indicated that the NFL still planned to move forward with Broncos-Pats tomorrow (Twitter link via Schefter).
However, a decision needed to be made quickly given that the Broncos were scheduled to make a cross-country flight to Foxborough today. Plus, Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston says the Pats were not going to let the league compel them to play, and that if players and coaches are uncomfortable, they will not play (Twitter link).
Given the on-going contact tracing taking place within the Tennessee organization, there is not yet an official word from the league as to the Titans-Bills game. Since the Titans have already lost their bye week, the NFL will presumably want to move forward with that contest. Even if that happens, though, it seems that a Week 18 for rescheduled games around the league is becoming more and more realistic.
As always, we will keep you updated as soon as we have more to pass along.
Maybe the NFL should consider 3 quarter doubleheaders lol
Haha
It’s a wonder there haven’t been more Covid cases. When you watch the players in each others faces after games without masks-hugging, etc. Call each other!
If the coaches are required to wear masks during the game the players should be required to wear them
The team have played 25 % of the season. Everyone is becoming complacent. Fans in the stands—a mistake. Baseball played 60 games without fans.
Get back to basics if you want the season to continue.
Fans aren’t the issue I think it’s great some places are doing that in very limited capacity. No direct interaction with the players whatsoever.
Fans have zero to do with this. Overall the numbers are actually pretty good. Issue is coming with positive tests later in the week.
The only issue is belicheck can’t win without newton, that’s the only thing that changed, patriots cry constantly and get their way, what a pathetic organization
Like when they played KC last week with their backup QB? That was the pats crying and getting their way? You think they were more worried about Denver? And decided that this was the game worth fighting over playing more than KC? Cheating scum sure, but can’t we at least stick to reasonable criticism?
And now they’ve just cancelled it. Dang…there goes my dinnertime viewing.
And now, Schefter says:
Sources: Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots game moved to next Sunday after new positive coronavirus test
Its not a big deal but Jacksonville was supposed to play the Chargers week 8
And from what I saw the Chargers cant play the Jags week 11 because the Jags play the Steelers week 11 and Pittsburgh was already forced into their bye …
The league is rather optimistic thinking they will get to a week 18.
Don’t look at reality, just overreact. There’s literally been two teams that have affected the schedule really. The Titans primarily and the Patriots. Otherwise, it’s been scattered positives and not very many at that.
If Cam Newton is feeling better, isn’t that good enough for him to say he’s cured and immune?
The Titans need to forfeit