After facing Raiders, Newton positive for COVID-19
The news could have implications for Week 5 game
The Raiders suddenly have more to worry about than today’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
New England quarterback Cam Newton, who played the entire game in a 36-20 win over the Raiders in Week 3, was added to the NFL’s COVID-19 list Saturday after testing positive Friday night for the coronavirus, according to both ESPN and the NFL Network.
Because of positive tests from Newton and a Chiefs practice squad quarterback, the NFL announced the Patriots’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs today would be rescheduled for Monday or Tuesday.
The Raiders are scheduled to play a home game today against the Buffalo Bills at Allegiant Stadium. Team officials could not be reached for comment and there has been no indication yet whether that game will be affected.
The Patriots released the following statement, which didn’t name Newton:
“Late last night, we received notice that a Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19. The player immediately entered self-quarantine. Several additional players, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the player received point of care tests this morning and were all negative for COVID-19.
“We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidelines regarding our scheduled trip to Kansas City and game against the Chiefs.The health and safety of our team, as well as our opponent, are of the highest priority.”
The Chiefs are scheduled to host the Raiders in Week 5. According to the NFL Network, the Chiefs player who tested positive was practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu.
The NFL issued the following statement on the Patriots-Chiefs game:
“The New England-Kansas City game scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday will be rescheduled to Monday or Tuesday after positive COVID-19 tests on both teams.
“In consultation with infectious disease experts, both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA to evaluate multiple close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments. All decisions will be made with the
health and safety of players, team and gameday personnel as our primary consideration.”
A scheduled game tpday between Pittsburgh and Tennessee was postponed and rescheduled for Oct 25 after an outbreak of positive tests with the Titans. As of Saturday morning, ESPN reported, 16 members of the organization including eight players had positive tests.
Newton played the entire game against the Raiders, completing 17 of 28 passes for 172 yards and also rushing nine times for 27 yards.
The Raiders were the subject of coronavirus-related news the day after facing the Patriots when approximately 10 players attended a fundraiser organized by tight end Darren Waller and were videotaped not wearing masks in violation of NFL protocol, prompting coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr to defend the organization’s vigilance against the virus.
Gr uden w a s f i ne d $100,000 and the Raiders $250,000 following their Week 2 win over New Orleans because the head coach was not wearing his mask properly. Gruden wore a mask throughout the Patriots game. Following the Saints game, according to an ESPN report, the Raiders were the subject of an NFL investigation for allowing an unauthorized team employee in the locker room. The NFL Network reported Saturday the Raiders were fined $50,000 by the NFL for the violation.
In an email with this news organization earlier this week, Raiders owner Mark Davis called the Waller benefit and the locker room situations “isolated and not condoned nor representative of the overall actions of the majority of the Raider organization.”
After the game, Gruden, when asked about the mask, told reporters he’d had the virus in mid-July.
The only Raiders player to test positive was defensive end Maxx Crosby during training camp. Crosby went on the COVID-19 list on Aug. 6 and was reinstated to the roster on Aug. 15.
Three Raiders players opted out of their contracts in early August because of COVID-19 concerns -- linebacker Ukeme Eligwe, cornerback D. J. Killings and defensive end Jeremiah Valoaga.
The Raiders added cornerback Amik Robertson to the injury list Saturday with an illness. He is listed as questionable. By rule, if Robertson had tested positive for coronavirus, he would have been placed on the COVID-19 as opposed to being listed with an illness on the injury report.