Albany Times Union

The Jets close facility, but second COVID test comes back negative, so game is on./

Positive test turns out negative on 2nd check, so game vs. Cards is on

- By Teresa M. Walker and Barry Wilner

All New York Jets players and coaches have tested negative for COVID -19, and Sunday ’s game against Arizona will be played on time.

The Jets posted a statement on social media Friday night, hours after their training facility was closed due to a presumptiv­e positive coronaviru­s test for one player.

“This evening, we received negative PCR COVID -19 test results for all players, coaches and personnel,” the team said. “Following a presumptiv­e positive COVID -19 test and out of an abundance of caution to ensure everyone’s health and safety, we sent all players and personnel home this morning. We also initiated all NFL mandated protocols including player isolation, subsequent testing, and contact tracing.

“As we have thus far, we will continue to follow required health and safety protocols in the best interests of our coaches, players, staff and community. We look forward to our game this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.”

During the summer, Lions quarterbac­k Matthew Stafford had a similar false positive.

The league has had 60 cases since testing began in which one player or staff member tested positive and there wasn’t further transmissi­on among the team. By sending everyone home from the facility Friday morning, the Jets took the appropriat­e steps under the NFL/ NFLPA COVID -19 protocols. And then the 100 percent negative tests were announced in the evening.

ESPN first reported the Jets’ presumptiv­e positive test.

The Tennessee Titans got some good news Friday with no positive test results hours after the NFL reschedule­d their game with Buffalo to Tuesday night, a person familiar with that situation told The Associated Press.

The Titans’ outbreak increased to 23 on Thursday with 21 positive results returned since Sept. 29. Now the Titans have gone three of the past five days without a positive test after the latest results, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither the NFL nor the Titans announced the latest results.

The NFL announced Thursday night that the Titans (3-0) will play host to Buffalo (4-0) on Tuesday. The league already postponed, then reschedule­d the Titans’ game with Pittsburgh from Oct. 4 to Oct. 25 during the outbreak.

The Bills had been preparing and practicing all week for a Sunday game in Nashville. With the NFL rescheduli­ng their game with Tennessee, the Bills announced they will not practice or have any availabili­ty Friday.

The league also reschedule­d New England’s game with Denver from Sunday to Monday.

If the Titans’ testing allows Tennessee to play Buffalo on Tuesday, the Bills’ prime-time game against Kansas City in Buffalo will be moved from Thursday to the weekend.

 ?? Adam Hunger / Associated Press ?? Quarterbac­k Joe Flacco will fill in for Sam Darnold this week, and found out Friday that the Jets’ game against Arizona is still on for Sunday.
Adam Hunger / Associated Press Quarterbac­k Joe Flacco will fill in for Sam Darnold this week, and found out Friday that the Jets’ game against Arizona is still on for Sunday.

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