COVID-19 - Pro Football Rumors

Titans Place TE MyCole Pruitt, CB Breon Borders On Reserve/COVID-19 List

October 8th, 2020 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans added two more players to their extensive reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, placing tight end MyCole Pruitt and practice squad cornerback Breon Borders on the list.

On Wednesday, a report indicated the Titans had two more positive coronavirus tests. But the team only added Corey Davis to its COVID list. Another positive was reported today, and two more names now appear on Tennessee’s list.

The list, as of Thursday afternoon: Davis, fellow receiver Adam Humphries, defensive linemen Jeffery Simmons and DaQuan Jones, cornerback Kristian Fulton, tackle Isaiah Wilson, outside linebacker Kamalei Correa, fullback Khari Blasingame, long snapper Beau Brinkley, Pruitt, Borders and fellow practice squad players Tommy Hudson, Cameron Batson and Greg Mabin. Twenty-three members of the Titans organization have now tested positive.

Sunday’s Titans-Bills game in Nashville remains a go, though it seems a postponement announcement could come soon. The Titans already had a game postponed because of this outbreak, with their Steelers matchup now moved to Week 7. Even with the NFL expanding practice squads to 16 in this unique year, the string of Titans positive tests point to another rescheduling. The Titans have not been able to practice in nearly two weeks, with each positive test keeping their facility closed. Titans offsite workouts have also prompted an NFL investigation.

A former fifth-round Vikings pick, Pruitt has been an supporting-cast tight end with the team since 2018. A former Raiders UDFA, Borders has only been with Tennessee for a couple weeks. The Titans added him to their practice squad September 21.

Additionally, the Titans announce Hudson — a practice squad tight end — has drawn a six-game PED suspension.

NFL To Investigate Titans Workouts

October 8th, 2020 at 1:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL and the NFLPA will investigate the Titans’ unauthorized workouts, according to sources who spoke with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Recently released pictures showed skill players holding an informal practice together at a local high school, but Pelissero hears that there were other in-person meetings in the midst of the team’s COVID-19 outbreak.

Hypothetically, the violates could lead to the forced forfeiture games. For now, that’s not under consideration, and the Titans’ upcoming game against the Bills is technically scheduled to go on as planned.

Things seemed to be trending upwards for the Titans and their situation. Tuesday marked their second straight day of zero positive tests, but they’ve since received two new positive tests among players. The identities of those players have not been disclosed, though wide receiver Corey Davis was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list yesterday. Since September 24, the Titans (players and personnel) have received 23 positive test results in total.

The NFL’s latest memo indicates that teams could face six-figure fines, lose draft picks, or forfeit games for violating procedures. It remains to be seen how the NFL will handle the Titans, but their punishment is likely to be steep.

New COVID-19 Positive Test For Titans

October 8th, 2020 at 8:23am CST by Zachary Links

On Thursday morning, the Titans received word of yet another positive test, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Meanwhile, a separate “inconclusive” positive from Wednesday been re-tested and found to be a confirmed positive.

The Titans are currently scheduled to play the Bills on Sunday, but that game is very much in flux. This comes one week after the Titans’ outbreak forced the NFL to postpone their game against the Steelers. Since September 24, the Titans (players and personnel) have received 23 positive test results in total.

In addition to the obvious health concerns, the league is also looking at a logistical quagmire. Some have speculated that the regular season will extend to a newly formed Week 18. Others have wondered if the NFL will put the entire season on pause, though that option is not on the table at this time. And, as of this writing, the league is not considering a “bubble” scenario with players confined to team hotels.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs and Raiders received no positive tests in their latest round, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). There was concern in Kansas City after the Chiefs came in close contact with Stephon Gilmore, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year who was found to have had COVID-19 earlier this week. The Raiders also placed a player on the Reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week, but, at this time, the virus does not appear to have spread throughout the locker room.

NFL Not Considering Pausing Season

October 7th, 2020 at 5:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Wednesday morning brought more trouble for the NFL on the coronavirus front, with news of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore‘s positive test preceding more Titans positives. Sunday’s Titans-Bills game is firmly in doubt, while the Patriots’ Week 5 contest against the Broncos is no longer a certainty to occur.

The NFL has beefed up its COVID-19 protocols, but the league may stop there for the time being. The league is not considering implementing home-market bubbles by putting players in hotels, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post, who adds the NFL pausing its 101st season is also not a serious consideration.

Another Titans postponement would represent a significant schedule glitch, since the league has already moved Tennessee’s bye week — along with Pittsburgh’s — after the outbreak forced a Week 4 schedule change. Wednesday’s news of the additional COVID cases forced the Titans to pause their facility reopening, and the NFL and NFLPA are investigating a protocol-violating offsite workout Tennessee players allegedly conducted.

More Patriots positive tests will further push calls for the NFL to make bigger changes to its coronavirus effort. The Pats did not practice Wednesday, closing their facility. Cam Newton remains asymptomatic, and the Patriots’ round of tests prior to Gilmore’s positive all came back negative. But given the string of positive tests the Titans have encountered since their outbreak began, this is obviously a situation to monitor.

The NFL has considered pushing its playoff slate back to add a Week 18 makeup window, however. But a Titans hiatus beyond this week would create issues with that plan as well. The next few days figure to be a critical point for the league, which Maske notes believes its in-place protocols will work if they are followed.

Titans Place Corey Davis On Reserve/COVID-19 List

October 7th, 2020 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier Wednesday, reports indicated the Titans had two new COVID-19 positives. One of those appears to have been fourth-year wide receiver Corey Davis.

The Titans placed Davis on their reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday afternoon. Tennessee now has 12 players on that list. The team still cannot re-enter its facility for practice, putting its Sunday game against Buffalo in doubt.

The league, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter), has launched an investigation into the Titans. They have seen a coronavirus outbreak spread among their roster and are believed to have conducted an illegal offsite workout. Some around the league believe the league is set to levy a “historic” punishment against the team to set an example, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. In addition to levying six-figure fines against teams for their coaches not complying with mask protocols, the NFL has threatened to strip teams of draft picks. That would seem to be the baseline for a “historic” punishment.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Davis joins fellow wideout Adam Humphries, defensive line starters Jeffery Simmons and DaQuan Jones, second-round cornerback Kristian Fulton, linebacker Kamalei Correa, long snapper Beau Brinkley, first-round tackle Isaiah Wilson, running back Khari Blasingame and practice squad players Cameron Batson, Greg Mabin and Tommy Hudson.

If the Titans-Bills game does happen this week — which is still the league’s plan — Tennessee could be severely shorthanded at wide receiver. No. 1 target A.J. Brown has not played since Week 1, but the team’s virtual injury report listed the second-year player as going through a pseudo-limited practice. This marks a pivotal year for Davis, after the Titans did not pick up his fifth-year option in May. Through three games, the former top-five pick has 15 receptions for 206 yards and a touchdown.

Titans’ Workout Violates NFL’s COVID-19 Rules

October 7th, 2020 at 1:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans broke league protocols by gathering for a workout last week (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky). Kuharsky’s story includes photo evidence, which could prove to be problematic for the team.

The Titans were barred from gathering in person following their initial coronavirus outbreak. By working out at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, those involved could place league discipline. Hypothetically, this could lead to a forced forfeiture of a game, per the league’s updated guidelines for safety. For the time being, that scenario has not been discussed by league officials, Judy Battista of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears.

The Titans are currently slated to face the Bills in a Week 5 matchup at Nissan Stadium. That could change in the coming hours following word of more positive tests in Tennessee.

Latest On NFL’s COVID-19 Testing

October 7th, 2020 at 12:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL received 84 positive test results between August 1 and October 3, per a Wednesday announcement from the league. That number includes 31 players and draws from a total of 370K+ tests.

The NFL had two confirmed positive tests among players and four new confirmed positives among other personnel between Sept. 20-26. Unfortunately, that number jumped to eleven confirmed positive player tests players and 15 new confirmed personnel positives from Sept. 27-Oct. 3. Among the recent players to test positive: Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, Patriots cornerback and reigning DPOY Stephon Gilmore, and two additional players from the Titans, who previously seemed to have their outbreak under wraps.

“The virus is still very much a threat not only to our season, but to the safety of everyone in our community,” said Dr. Thom Mayer, the NFLPA’s Medical Director. “We encourage everyone to do their part to follow the protocols and keep each other safe.”

Meanwhile, the state of Florida has given the Dolphins permission to operate at 65K capacity. However, citing CDC guidelines, the Dolphins will continue to operate at 13K capacity, CEO Tom Garfinkel says (Twitter link via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald).

Titans Have Two New COVID-19 Positives

October 7th, 2020 at 8:23am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans received two positive tests results in their latest round of COVID-19 testing, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Previous to this, the Titans seemed to have the viral spread under control with consecutive days of zero new positives.

The Titans are scheduled to play the Bills in Week 5. As it stands, that game is still on; as is the Patriots’ Sunday tilt against the Bills. Of course, the league will keep a watchful eye on the Titans and Patriots, who just received word of star cornerback Stephon Gilmore‘s positive test.

The Titans were forced to call off their Week 4 game against the Steelers and close their team facility following the first outbreak. They’ve shut down their building once again in light of the latest positives. In total, the Titans have had ten players test positive in the last two weeks, plus nine personnel members.

Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore Tests Positive For COVID-19

October 7th, 2020 at 8:04am CST by Zachary Links

Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore has tested positive for COVID-19, as NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. With that, the Patriots have called off Wednesday’s practice.

Gilmore’s positive tests comes on the heels of quarterback Cam Newton‘s diagnosis. In addition, practice squad defensive lineman Bill Murray has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which means that he has either come in close contact with someone that has the coronavirus or has it himself.

The Chiefs — who played the Patriots on Monday night — had zero positive tests in Wednesday’s round. However, Gilmore was in close contact with numerous Chiefs players during the game, including star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Gilmore was also on one of the Patriots’ two team planes, meaning that many more players and personnel members were potentially exposed.

Gilmore, 30, was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. He’ll be ineligible to play on Sunday against the Broncos, per league protocol, and his diagnosis will likely have a ripple effect on the schedule. More importantly, the hope is that the virus has not spread and that Gilmore remains in good condition.

AFC East Notes: Newton, Dolphins, Jets

October 6th, 2020 at 6:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cam Newton was reported Monday to be asymptomatic after his positive COVID-19 test, and with nothing changing on that front Tuesday, the Patriots quarterback could return to practice as soon as Thursday. While no other players on New England’s active roster tested positive, the team placed practice squad defensive tackle Bill Murray on its reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday. Murray did not make the trip to Kansas City, per NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran (on Twitter), but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes the young defender did stay at the hotel near Gillette Stadium with teammates previously.

Here is the latest from the AFC East, moving first to the Dolphins’ quarterback situation:

Brian Flores did not commit to Ryan Fitzpatrick receiving a fifth start when asked earlier this week, but the Dolphins‘ second-year head coach did so Tuesday. Fitzpatrick will start against the 49ers. Flores said Tua Tagovailoa‘s 2019 hip injury remains a factor in the Dolphins’ decision-making. The former Alabama prodigy’s past injury issues have helped keep Fitzpatrick in the lineup. Fitz has thrown four touchdown passes, five interceptions and interestingly holds the league’s No. 9 QBR figure (75.3). But with questions about Fitzpatrick’s job status taking place before Week 5, Tagovailoa will surely make his debut this season.
Before ultimately deciding on the Giants, Logan Ryan was squarely on the Jets‘ radar. The most recent report indicated Jets GM Joe Douglas nixed a Ryan agreement because it leaked to the media, with contract demands almost certainly playing a role as well, but Ryan said during a radio interview with WFAN the Jets did not make an offer (Twitter link). Ryan estimated he talked to nearly every team this offseason, one in which he was a free agent for more than five months. Barring a Giants extension, the veteran defensive back is slated to be a free agent again in 2021.
The Jets did not plan on using injured left tackle Mekhi Becton last week, but replacement Chuma Edoga going down in the first quarter prompted them to reinsert their ailing starter into the lineup. Adam Gase said the nature of Becton’s injury would have prevented him from making it worse, calling it a pain-tolerance issue. The Louisville alum is said to be dealing with a capsule issue in his shoulder, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes. This pertains to the ligament surrounding the shoulder joint. Becton played just 17 snaps in Week 4. The first-round pick has played well when healthy but has seen this injury stall his development.
Gang Green may be without its left tackle and starting quarterback in Week 5. The Jets are not expected to play Sam Darnold against the Cardinals, with the team on track to proceed with caution after the quarterback was slammed to turf during the Jets’ loss to the Broncos.

COVID-19 News & Rumors