NFL looking at protocol incidents with Titans; Pats cancel practice

The NFL’s investigation into how Tennessee turned into the league’s first COVID-19 outbreak found “several specific incidents“of the Titans possibly breaking protocols dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, according to a person with knowledge of the probe.

Also, the headmaster of a private school in Nashville confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that several Titans, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, practiced on its field Sept. 30. That was a day before the NFL first postponed Tennessee’s game with Pittsburgh before rescheduling to Oct. 25.

Tennessee had two more players test positive Wednesday, a person familiar with the the situation said. The Titans placed starting wide receiver Corey Davis on the reserve/ COVID-19 list hours later, bringing their total to 22 cases with 20 returned since Sept. 29.

The Titans cannot return to their facility before Saturday at the earliest, needing back-to-back days without a positive test result. They haven’t been on a field since beating the Vikings 31-30 on Sept. 27. The NFL has to decide if they play Buffalo (4-0) as scheduled Sunday, postpone and reschedule or forfeit.

Elsewhere, the Patriots are dealing with their own COVID-19 cases. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, announced on social media he had tested positive and is asymptomatic. New England canceled practices Wednesday and Thursday. The Patriots are scheduled to host Denver on Sunday.

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The NFL and New Orleans are working on contingency plans for Monday night’s scheduled game between the Saints and Chargers in New Orleans in the event

Hurricane Delta brings severe weather to southeastern Louisiana. As of Wednesday, forecasts indicated Delta would come ashore Friday from as far west as the Texas-Louisiana border, or as far east as the New Orleans area.

Quarterback Sam Darnold will sit out Sunday against Arizona with his sprained right shoulder. Joe Flacco will start instead.