XFL player tested positive for virus
A Seattle Dragons player tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the XFL said Sunday in a statement.
The league said the unidentified player competed March 7 in a game against the Houston Roughnecks and that he was “asymptomatic at that time.”
“He self-reported to medical staff on Tuesday and has been in quarantine since. A test was administered as early as possible with the results received March 13,” the league said.
The league said the player also participated in the previous week’s game at the St. Louis BattleHawks.
“The league is alerting players, staff, vendors and partners associated with the Dragons, Roughnecks, and BattleHawks. The XFL is monitoring the situation closely and taking every measure necessary in accordance with recommendations set forth by the CDC.”
A Dragons spokesman said the team would not have any further comment beyond what the league said in its statement.
The XFL suspended play Thursday, stopping its first season since a one-year run in 2001. The league has said it is committed to returning in 2021 and beyond.
Seattle, which was 1-4 at the midpoint of the XFL season, played without quarterback Brandon Silvers March 7 after he fell ill before the game and stayed back at the team hotel. He flew back to Seattle separate from the team, then was not allowed to practice Tuesday.
Because Silvers did not play, he is not the unidentified player who tested positive. The team was not immediately available for comment on Silvers’ condition.
Long snapper re-signed
The Detroit Lions resigned long snapper Don Muhlbach. Long snappers generally don’t merit notice, but Muhlbach is an exception. He will be entering his 17th NFL season in 2020. He is second on Detroit’s career list with 244 games played. What’s more, by playing in 16 games each season from 2010-19, Muhlbach became the first player in franchise history to appear in all 160 games in a decade. Muhlbach originally entered the NFL in 2004 as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens.
Redskins apply tag
Washington placed the franchise tag on guard Brandon Scherff. The team used a nonexclusive rights tag on Scherff, meaning he can receive offers from other teams with the Redskins having the opportunity to match. If Washington declines, the other team must give the Redskins two firstround draft picks — making it unlikely another team will make Scherff an offer this offseason. The franchise tag allows the Redskins to keep Scherff for next season at a rate that is based on the league’s top five contracts for offensive linemen, which is expected to be $16.1 million. Scherff, 28, was scheduled to be a free agent and was considered by many around the NFL to be the best offensive lineman available after he earned Pro Bowl nods in three of the past four seasons.
Falcons extend fullback
Atlanta fullback Keith Smith agreed to a three-year contract extension. Smith, who started five games and led the team with eight special teams tackles in 2019, was set to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. The 27-year-old Smith signed with Atlanta early in the 2019 season.
Hall closing
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is closing temporarily because of the COVID-19 pandemic. An official for the museum in Canton, Ohio said it will be closed to the public from Monday through March 27.