Titans expect to get back to work, play Sunday’s game
Coach Mike Vrabel says the Tennessee Titans stand by how they’ve followed the NFL’s protocols for the coronavirus pandemic and hope the league will allow the team back inside the building today.
The NFL’s first team to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak has had a couple of what Vrabel called “really good days” with testing, and the coach said they’re hoping for more good news.
ESPN reported the Titans had no new positive COVID-19 tests for the second consecutive day Tuesday and can return to practice.
Twenty Titans players and staff members have received positive tests since Sept. 24.
“And then we’ll kind of see where we’re at with the league and hopeful to return and get back in the building,” Vrabel said.
If allowed back inside the team’s headquarters today, that would keep the Titans (3- 0) on target to host Buffalo (40) on Sunday in a matchup of two of the NFL’s six remaining undefeated teams.
The NFL and its players union had people in Nashville meeting with the Titans to review how the team handled the outbreak and checking protocols. The Titans, and any other team with an outbreak or exposed to a team with an outbreak, now have new protocols to follow.
The Titans’ outbreak reached 20 cases on Sunday, the team’s sixth straight day of at least one positive, with 18 returned since Sept. 29. The players testing positive include defensive captain DaQuan Jones, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, wide receiver Adam Humphries, rookie cornerback Kristian Fulton and long snapper Beau Brinkley. BUCS’ HOWARD OUT FOR SEASON >> Tampa Bay tight end O. J. Howard will miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon.
The Buccaneers placed the fourth-year pro on injured reserve, the third time in Howard’s career that an injury has ended his season prematurely.
Howard, the 19th overall pick in the 2017 draft, had 11 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns in four games. RODGERS, TONYAN LEAD PACKERS OVER FALCONS >> Aaron Rodgers connected with tight end Robert Tonyan on three of his four touchdown passes, and the Green Bay Packers remained unbeaten with a 30-16 victory over the winless Atlanta Falcons (0- 4) on Monday night.
The Packers (4- 0) opened a season by scoring at least 30 points in four straight games for the first time in franchise history.
HARRISON VISITING SEAHAWKS, PACKERS >> Former All-Pro defensive tackle Damon Harrison is visiting the Seahawks and Packers, ESPN reported.
The 31-year- old free agent started 15 games for the Lions last season, registering 49 tackles, three passes defensed and two sacks. The Lions released him in February.
Last December, he told the NFL Network that he was considering retirement. Harrison was a first-team All-Pro selection with the Giants in 2016 and has played in 117 games (111 starts) with the Jets (201215), Giants (2016-18) and Lions (2018-19).
DALLAS OL HIT WITH INJURIES >> Cowboys center Joe Looney is sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury, and tackle La’el Collins is headed for season-ending hip surgery, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. Looney, 30, sprained his right MCL on the first snap of Sunday’s 49-38 home loss to the Browns.
Looney has played in all 68 games (24 starts) since joining the Cowboys as a free agent in 2016. He spent his first three seasons (2012-14) with the 49ers and played one year with the Titans (2015).
Rookie Tyler Biadasz replaced Looney and has played 133 snaps over the last two games.
PURCELL EARNS BIG PAYDAY IN DENVER >> Mike Purcell, a 29-year- old journeyman nose tackle, parlayed his surprising success in Denver last year into a big payday, signing a three-year, $14.8 million extension with the Broncos, his eighth team.
“It’s amazing. It’s a complete blessing, that’s for sure,” Purcell said. “The journey has been up and down, and there have been multiple times when I’ve thought about hanging it up and saying, ‘Maybe it’s time to move on and start a real career.’ ”
After getting overlooked in the 2013 NFL draft he signed with the 49ers, where he spent four years bouncing between the 49ers’ practice squad and active roster before getting claimed off waivers by the Rams in 2017.