RAVENS QB JACKSON TESTS POSITIVE; GAME IN DANGER
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has tested positive for COVID-19, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Thursday, the latest player sidelined by a coronavirus outbreak that has imperiled Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
Ravens players were informed Thursday night of new positive tests for players, including Jackson and defensive end Jihad Ward, the source said. In a call, they were told that Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh, already postponed from its original Thanksgiving Day date, is increasingly unlikely to be played.
An NFL spokesman said there has been no change in the game’s status. The NFL Network was the first to report that Jackson, the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player, had tested positive.
Jackson is the highestprofile Ravens player affected by the team’s outbreak. The Ravens have placed eight players on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week, and players were told that the team facility will remain closed until the team returns all negative tests.
Under coronavirus protocols, any player who returned a positive test taken after Monday would likely miss both the Steelers game and the Ravens’ next game, a Dec. 3 matchup with the Cowboys. Any players who returned positive tests would be unable to play unless they test negative twice at least 24 hours apart.
Robert Griffin III is the Ravens’ backup quarterback. Third-string quarterback Trace McSorley is on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
More COVID updates
Larry Fitzgerald and fellow Cardinals receiver Trent Sherfield have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. The 37-year-old Fitzgerald is in his 17th NFL season and hasn’t missed a regularseason game since 2014.
• The Browns didn’t dodge COVID-19 on the holiday. Cleveland placed defensive end Porter Gustin on the COVID-19 list, further weakening a group already missing star Myles Garrett and the latest move for a Browns team hit hard by the virus in recent weeks.
• Broncos No. 3 quarterback Jeff Driskel was placed on the COVID-19 list but contact tracing showed starter Drew Lock and the Broncos’ other QBs weren’t in danger of being infected by the coronavirus.
Tua’s thumb hurting
Tua Tagovailoa’s sore thumb was better, and Dolphins coach Brian Flores expressed optimism his rookie quarterback will be able to play Sunday against the Jets.
Tagovailoa hurt the thumb on his throwing hand in practice and was limited in practice for the second day in a row.
“He got banged up a little bit,” Flores said. “I don’t think this is something we’re too worried about. He’s getting treatment, he’s rehabbing. We’ll see how this goes. It’s sore, but he’s a tough kid. He has played through some things before.”
Notable
The Rams placed leading tackler Micah Kiser (knee) on injured reserve, but coach Sean McVay says the injury is not season-ending. The Rams’ starting middle linebacker will be sidelined for at least three weeks.
• Packers reserve defensive lineman Montravius Adams is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a toe injury. In other injury-related news, wide receiver Davante Adams (ankle) didn’t practice and center Corey Linsley ( back) was a limited practice participant.
Sam Darnold (shoulder) was a full participant at practice, putting the Jets quarterback on track to start Sunday against the Dolphins.