Broncos have four QBS benched for Sunday; 49ers may need a new temporary home./
Signal-callers sent home; county bans all sports contact
The NFL faced widespread complications Saturday in its attempt to complete the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Denver Broncos are dealing with a severe quarterback shortage but remain scheduled to play host to the New Orleans Saints in a game Sunday.
The largest-scale issue was the predicament of the 49ers, who might need to move their operations for practices and home games because of new restrictions imposed by Santa Clara County.
The Broncos were left scrambling when quarterbacks Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles were sent home from the team's practice facility Saturday. They were placed in five-day quarantines after being identified by the NFL as high-risk close contacts to fellow quarterback Jeff Driskel, who reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday. All four of those quarterbacks are ineligible to play Sunday.
The Broncos- Saints game remained on as scheduled, according to a person familiar with the NFL'S planning. The team is trying to prepare practice squad rookie receiver Kendall Hinton and No. 3 running back Royce Freeman to share snaps at quarterback.
The NFL and the 49ers have a contingency plan in place for where the team will practice and play games if it must move, according to a person familiar with the situation. County officials issued a directives, banning all contact sports from holding games and practices for the next three weeks. The rules take effect Monday and will last until Dec 21.
Details were not immediately available, but games likely will be played at another NFL stadium.
The 49ers play Sunday in Inglewood, Calif., against the Rams. Their next scheduled home game is Dec. 7, a Monday night, against the Bills. The 49ers also have home games scheduled for
Dec. 13 against the Washington Football Team and Jan. 3 vs. the Seahawks,
The NFL told clubs Saturday that all team facilities are closed Monday and Tuesday because of rising coronavirus caseloads nationally and Thanksgiving gatherings.
Colts: Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor was put on the reserve/covid-19 list, making him unavailable for the game against the Titans. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Deforest Buckner and defensive end Denico Autry remain on the COVID list. Two other starters, center Ryan Kelly (neck) and linebacker Bobby Okereke (ankle), also have been ruled out.
Meanwhile, the team signed defensive tackle Grover Stewart to a three-year contract extension, worth up to $30.75 million with $20 million guaranteed.
Dolphins: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s game at the Jets, meaning it’s likely veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick will make his first start since Oct. 18.
Raiders: Running backs coach Kirby Wilson won’t coach this week because of COVID-19related reasons. The team currently has three players on the COVID-19 list: running back Theo Riddick, tackle Trent Brown and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner.
Ravens: Six more players, including outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson and right tackle D.J. Fluker, have been placed on the COVID-19 list. Defensive lineman Broderick Washington and offensive lineman Will Holden also were put on the list. Two others, defensive backs Khalil Dorsey and Tavon Young, were on injured reserve before joining the list.
Steelers: Starting running back James Conner tested positive for COVID-19 and is awaiting another test Sunday to confirm. Special teams coach Danny Smith, 67, also tested positive.
Titans: Three-time Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern and cornerback Tye Smith were activated from injured reserve. Linebacker David Long also is back from the reserve/covid-19 list.