NFL Extends Daily COVID-19 Testing
In the wake of the Titans’ COVID-19 outbreak, the NFL announced that it will continue testing all players and coaches on a daily basis, with the exception of game days. And, in a new development, players and coaches will be barred from leaving their team’s city during bye weeks to further mitigate the potential for viral contraction and spread.
[RELATED: Latest On Titans’ COVID-19 Outbreak]
The penalties for missed tests will also continue. A player who misses one test without prior authorization will receive a $50K fine. Two missed tests will result in a one-game ban, and any missed tests beyond that will lead to longer suspensions, also without pay.
In related news, Sunday’s game between the Texans and Vikings will go on as scheduled, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). For now, Titans-Steelers represents the only game to be bumped from the Week 4 slate.
Latest On Titans’ COVID-19 Outbreak
Two more Titans players have tested positive for COVID-19, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. In total, seven Titans players and six personnel members have tested positive. 
On Thursday, the NFL postponed the Titans’ game against the Steelers, scheduled for Sunday. The make-up date for that game remains TBD — all we know for now is that it will not be made up during Week 4, as initially planned. The Vikings, who played the Titans on Sunday, have received zero positive tests this week. For now, their Sunday game against the Texans is set to go on as scheduled.
In the interim, the Vikings will operate under the “supplemental intensive protocols” set forth by the league. The protocols include no in-person meetings, two daily tests per person, and mandatory masks and gloves for everyone on the practice field.
“There is one simple rule to remember,” said the NFL in Thursday’s memo. “Act as if every person you come in contact with has a COVID infection and take appropriate precautions.”
At last check, no one on the Titans was seriously ill, beyond some flu-like symptoms.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/20
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K Elliott Fry, S T.J. Green
- Released: P Cameron Nizialek
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Pete Guerriero
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Ryan Switzer
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Juwann Winfree
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: G Ryan Hunter
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Jordan Roos
- Released: WR Mason Kinsey
Broncos Work Out Sylvester Williams
Timmy Jernigan wasn’t the only defensive tackle to meet with the Broncos this week. The club also auditioned five other interior linemen, including former first round pick Sylvester Williams, per the league’s official record. Darius Kilgo, David Moa, Brian Price, and Niles Scott also took part in the audition. 
[RELATED: Broncos To Sign Timmy Jernigan]
Williams, 31, has not lived up to his billing as the No. 28 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Still, he’s been mostly employed for the last seven seasons. Williams has played for the Titans, Lions, and Dolphins, and Chargers since leaving the Broncos. The Saints rostered him briefly last summer.
The 330-pound veteran appeared in five games for the Bolts last year, but wasn’t first-string for any of those appearances. The bulk of his 63 career starts came with the Broncos, followed by eleven starts with the Titans in 2017. He might not be a world-beater, but he does come with ample experience, including two Super Bowl starts.
It’s not immediately clear whether the Broncos are still in the market for a defensive tackle or nose tackle after signing Jernigan. But, at minimum, they should have a couple of candidates on their emergency list, which is pretty key given their rash of injuries this year.
XFL To Return In 2022
The Rock says the XFL will return in the spring of 2022 (Twitter link via Dwayne Johnson). This will mark the third iteration of the pro football league, which was recently acquired from original founder Vince McMahon.
“As owners, we’re proud to champion our XFL players, coaches, cities and fans into an electrifying 2022 season! It’s an uphill battle – but we’re hungry, humble and no one will outwork us,” Johnson wrote. “[This will be] a league of culture, passion, and purpose.”
The XFL’s relaunch ended midway through its (re)inaugural season, prompting McMahon to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. McMahon put the league up for sale in May and reportedly attracted “dozens” of potential bidders. Ultimately, McMahon’s longtime WWE superstar presented the top offer. McMahon, meanwhile, still has some loose ends to tie up. Commissioner Oliver Luck sued McMahon and other execs have filed claims to collect their pay. The XFL released its players in March, allowing quarterbacks Josh Johnson, P.J. Walker, Jordan Ta’amu, and others to seek NFL deals.
There was some speculation to a 2021 return, but the current climate would make a short turnaround difficult. Instead, the XFL will take an additional year to get organized and land the television deals needed to make the league viable. The 2020 XFL included eight teams: the Dallas Renegades, the Houston Roughnecks, the Los Angeles Wildcats, the Seattle Dragons, the D.C. Defenders, the New York Guardians, the St. Louis BattleHawks, and the Tampa Bay Vipers. The 2022 iteration may or may not include all of those markets.
Latest On Jets, Adam Gase
Despite the recent rumblings, Adam Gase‘s job as the Jets’ head coach will not be on the line in tonight’s game against the Broncos, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears. Gase’s far from safe, but the Jets want to give him the opportunity to turn things around. 
The Jets feel that firing Gase after just four games would be counterproductive. They’re also concerned about making a change that could stifle the development of quarterback Sam Darnold. Privately, the Jets probably recognize that they haven’t given the 42-year-old coach much to work with.
The Jets sat on their cash this offseason, mostly handing out one-year deals or contracts that are light on guaranteed dollars for 2021 and beyond. The Jets ultimately whiffed on most of their top targets and declined to go deep into talks for Jaguars star edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Then, just before the start of the season, the Jets shipped star safety Jamal Adams to the Seahawks. Publicly, Jets CEO Christopher Johnson claims that he gave GM Joe Douglas “complete discretion” in managing the roster, but finances were undoubtedly a factor.
After opening the season with three straight losses, Gase now has a combined 30-37 career coaching record. Things haven’t gone according to plan since the Jets hired Gase in January of 2019, but the team did manage to go 6-2 in the second half of last season. The Jets will hope for a similar spark starting tonight when they face the winless Broncos.
Cardinals Add T.J. Ward To Practice Squad
The Cardinals have signed veteran safety T.J. Ward to their practice squad, per a club announcement. With injuries throughout the position group, it might not be long before Ward is called up to the varsity squad. 
The Cardinals’ safety group has been ravaged by injuries. Jalen Thompson is on IR, Budda Baker is still healing up from thumb surgery, and Chris Banjo is questionable due to a hamstring pull, which could put Ward on the field for this week’s game against the Panthers. The Cardinals may also have to get creative by moving versatile rookie linebacker Isaiah Simmons to the secondary.
Ward played three seasons with the Broncos, serving as one of the anchors for Denver’s No Fly Zone Super Bowl-winning secondary. He missed the 53-man cut in Vance Joseph‘s first year as the team’s head coach — now, he’s set to play for him in Arizona.
Ward, 33, has not played since the 2017 season. In his last stop with the Buccaneers, Ward registered 30 tackles and three passes defended in 12 games (five starts). Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance, ranking him 58th among eligible safeties.
Steelers-Titans Game Bumped From Week 4
The Steelers and Titans will not play their scheduled game in Week 4, the NFL announced on Thursday morning. The game has been postponed indefinitely due to additional positive tests in the Titans’ latest round of COVID-19 testing.
The Titans were forced to cancel in-person activities this week after three players and five personnel members tested positive. After Wednesday’s round of tests, the organization is up to eleven positive tests in total — five players and six staffers (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The team facility will remain closed until further notice, with many more rounds of tests to come between now and their next scheduled game on October 11 vs. the Bills.
The Vikings were also put through expanded testing after their Week 3 game against the Titans, but everyone in the organization tested negative. Their game against the Texans is slated to go on as scheduled on Sunday afternoon in Houston.
On Wednesday, head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that no one on the Titans was seriously ill, beyond the usual flu-like symptoms. Hopefully, that’s still the case after word of three more positives.
Ravens, Marlon Humphrey Agree To $98MM+ Deal
The Ravens have agreed to a brand new five-year, $98.75MM extension with star cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). The deal, which includes $66MM in total guaranteed cash, makes him one of the league’s highest paid players at his position. The Ravens have also confirmed the extension via social media.
[RELATED: Ravens CB Tavon Young Done For The Year]
“Marlon is the type of player we want in Baltimore,” Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said. “Besides his obvious talents as a playmaking corner, he’s a passionate competitor who craves winning. We are excited that he’s going to remain with us for seven seasons.”
Humphrey, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2017 draft, was previously cuffed through the 2021 season via the fifth-year options. Per league rules for the fifth-year option on first-round picks, he was in line for the average salary of the league’s No. 3 – No. 25 highest-paid CBs, which came out to just over $10MM. His new pact will give him $19.5MM per annum, and $37MM paid out by March of 2021.
Humphrey, 24 in July, started nearly every game for the Ravens last year en route to his first career Pro Bowl selection and first ever First-Team All-Pro nod. Along the way, he notched three interceptions, recovered three fumbles, returned two of them for touchdowns. In the interest of equal time: the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 37th best cornerback in the NFL; solid standing, though most evaluators and fans would probably rank him higher.
Humphrey is just the latest corner to hit the jackpot this year, following extensions for Jalen Ramsey (five-year, $105MM deal), Byron Jones (five years, $82.5MM), Tre’Davious White (four years, $70MM), and Darius Slay (three years, $50.05MM). After losing slot corner Tavon Young for the season, the Ravens will be banking on Humphrey more than ever in 2020.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/30/20
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S T.J. Green
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S Marcus Gilchrist
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: G Deion Calhoun, LB Kendall Donnerson
- Released: OT Josh Knipfel
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Krishawn Hogan
- Released: QB Chad Kelly
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Chad Williams
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB B.J. Bello
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Damarious Randall, LB Tim Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Malik Henry
- Placed on PS-IR: Lil’Jordan Humphrey