The NFL has not needed to adjust its schedule since Week 7, though Division I-FBS certainly has. But more teams are dealing with COVID-19 issues over the past several days. Here is the latest on this NFL season’s defining subject:
- The Chiefs asked the NFL and NFLPA to conduct an investigation after a recent meeting involved a union rep speaking to the entire Chiefs roster without wearing a mask, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The unnamed union rep is not subject to the same testing the players are, which prompted the Chiefs’ concern after the meeting, Schefter adds (on Twitter). The NFLPA has addressed this matter, per Terez Paylor of Yahoo.com (on Twitter).
- Iman Marshall tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports. He becomes the second Ravens defensive back to test positive in two weeks, following Marlon Humphrey. The latter’s positive test resulted in several Baltimore defenders missing each Ravens practice last week. Marshall, however, cannot play this season due to the Ravens placing him on IR in August. The Ravens announced the infected player, without identifying him, had no high-risk close contacts among the team. Humphrey is no longer on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
- Kendrick Bourne‘s positive test decimated the 49ers‘ receiving corps last week, but an NFL investigation found the team to be compliant with COVID-19 protocols. They will not be punished, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. As for Bourne, he has endured a complicated several days. After testing negative twice and being removed from the 49ers’ reserve/COVID-19 list, he tested positive again and was back on it Monday. He has tested negative this week, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. If Bourne were cleared to make the trip to New Orleans, he would do so after missing most or all of this week’s 49ers practices.
- The NFL placed the Eagles in its intensive COVID protocols after a coach tested positive, Tim McManus of ESPN.com notes. While Philadelphia’s facility remains open, all Eagles meetings this week will be conducted virtually.
- A Bengals practice squad player tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The Bengals placed cornerbacks Brian Allen and Winston Rose on their practice squad COVID list. The team currently has five players — Allen, Rose, Trae Waynes (on IR), Margus Hunt and offensive lineman Fred Johnson — on its reserve/COVID list going into its game against Pittsburgh. The Steelers currently have five players — Ben Roethlisberger, Vance McDonald, Vince Williams, Jaylen Samuels and offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins — on their COVID list.