The N.F.L. has actually postponed Sundays highly awaited video game between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs to Monday or Tuesday because of positive coronavirus tests on both teams. According to several news media reports, Cam Newton, the Patriots quarterback, was amongst those who tested positive.
” In assessment with transmittable illness professionals, both clubs are working closely with the N.F.L. and the N.F.L.P.A. to assess several close contacts, perform additional testing and screen developments,” the league stated in a declaration. “All decisions will be made with the health and wellness of players, team and gameday personnel as our primary consideration.”
The Patriots confirmed a favorable test, but did not determine the player, in accordance with personal privacy policies. In a declaration launched Saturday, the team said the gamer had been separated and that subsequent tests done on gamers and staff who had been in contact with him had actually come back unfavorable.
” We are in close consultation with the N.F.L. as well as our group of independent medical professionals and professionals,” the declaration said, “and will follow their assistance concerning our arranged trip to Kansas City and video game against the Chiefs. The health and wellness of our team, as well as of our opponent, are of greatest priority.”
The video game was to be a closely watched showdown at Kansas Citys Arrowhead Stadium in between 2 of the leagues finest quarterbacks. The Patriots are 2-1 with Newton, who replaced Tom Brady after he left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Patrick Mahomes, the Super Bowl most valuable gamer, and the Chiefs are 3-0.
The brand-new favorable tests come after the N.F.L. had actually invested much of the week rushing to attend to a break out of favorable tests among the Tennessee Titans. A minimum of a lots members of the company– including as numerous as 9 players– are known to be infected, which forced the league to reschedule the Titans game on Sunday versus the Pittsburgh Steelers to Oct. 25.
Tennessees team centers have actually been closed since Tuesday and all in-person activities stopped. The Titans apparently had brand-new cases on Friday and Saturday, raising concerns about whether the break out would force the post ponement or cancellation of their next game, in the house versus the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 11.
Now, with positive cases on 2 more teams, the N.F.L. is facing its first major difficulty to completing the routine season according to its design. After the Titans outbreak started, the league stepped up enforcement measures to help restrict direct exposure dangers and increase punitive measures for bad moves.
The league sent a memo on Friday to teams specifying that coaches and players would be restricted from leaving their groups city during bye weeks. 2 days earlier, Troy Vincent, N.F.L.s executive vice president for football operations, had actually sent another memo that threatened suspensions or the loss of draft selects to groups whose coaches did not wear masks while on the sidelines. “If we are to play a uninterrupted and complete season, all of us must stay dedicated to our efforts to mitigate the risk of transmission of the virus,” Vincent said.
Though today marks the first prevalent reporting of positive tests in the N.F.L., whose players and team owners decided not to play the season in an enclosed environment, or “bubble,” the league has been formerly impacted by separated cases. After the season-opening game on Sept. 10 between the Houston Texans and Chiefs in Kansas City, 10 fans who had actually participated in the video game had to quarantine because they were exposed to another fan who had actually checked favorable in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City has actually continued to permit approximately 17,000 fans to participate in each game– roughly 22 percent of the arenas capacity.
The Atlanta Falcons placed beginning cornerback A.J. Terrell on the reserve/Covid -19 list before the groups Week 3 game versus the Chicago Bears, which was played as arranged after neither group reported any additional positives.
The league sent a memo on Friday to teams mentioning that players and coaches would be prohibited from leaving their groups city during bye weeks. 2 days earlier, Troy Vincent, N.F.L.s executive vice president for football operations, had sent another memo that threatened suspensions or the forfeit of draft chooses to groups whose coaches did not wear masks while on the sidelines. This week marks the very first widespread reporting of favorable tests in the N.F.L., whose gamers and group owners opted not to play the season in an enclosed environment, or “bubble,” the league has been previously impacted by isolated cases. After the season-opening video game on Sept. 10 in between the Houston Texans and Chiefs in Kansas City, 10 fans who had participated in the game had to quarantine since they were exposed to another fan who had actually checked favorable in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium.
