A LONG, STRANGE TRIP FOR NINERS
When the San Francisco 49ers arrived at their temporary home in Arizona, coach Kyle Shanahan gathered several players and told them to make sure everyone is looking out for each other.
As important as practice, game plans and preparations are for the playoff-hopeful 49ers, Shanahan is also concerned about the mental wellbeing of his players, who have left their families for at least three weeks after strict new COVID-19 protocols in their home county prohibited games and practices for contact sports until at least Dec. 21.
“I just try to tell everyone, no matter what, when someone has a problem, whatever it is, there’s no problem too big or too small,” Shanahan said. “A lot of guys keep that stuff internally, but I met with a bunch of the players and I grabbed about 20 of them last night and just told them to look out for that stuff. It’s just understanding that it’s human nature.”
Shanahan said the team doesn’t have a “woe is me” mentality during this time but understands it is a challenge. The Niners learned they would have to leave town Saturday as they were boarding a f light to Los Angeles to take on the Rams.
Santa Clara County announced the new protocols that essentially shut down the team facility in a move that caught the players and coaches off guard. The Niners (5-6) went on to beat the Rams 23-20 to remain in the playoff hunt, returned home to the Bay Area and then put together the plan to practice and play their next two home games
at the Cardinals stadium in Arizona, starting with Monday night’s game against the Bills.
San Francisco will take on Washington the following week and then head to Dallas for a road game, practicing the whole time in Arizona. It’s possible they could return home after that game on Dec. 20, but there are no assurances of when the new rules will be lifted so they might need to finish the season on the road.
“Once we got the news, we’re going to Arizona and then you just pack your bags and go,” quarterback Nick Mullens said. “You just roll with it.”
Gordon coming back
Josh Gordon was conditionally reinstated by the NFL and can begin the process of joining the Seahawks’ roster as early as today.
Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Gordon after nearly a one-year suspension following his latest off-field transgression for violations of the league’s substance abuse policies.
Gordon was suspended in December 2019 for violating the league’s drug policy. He tested positive for performance enhancers and “substances of abuse,” the league said in a statement at the time.
Ravens regrouping
The Ravens played the Steel
ers on Wednesday — and almost beat them, too — with 17 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including seven Pro Bowl selections and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson.
With the timing of the team’s outbreak, the Ravens knew they’d be short-handed in Pittsburgh. They also knew most could be back by the team’s next game, a crucial Tuesday night matchup with the visiting Cowboys.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh indicated the team has no control over when infected players can be cleared to return.
“They all have their different days when they’re possibly allowed to come back, but those are medical decisions, in the end, not coaching decisions,” Harbaugh said.
“So when the doctors clear them to practice, that’s when we’ll have them.”
Asked whether he expected Jackson, who reportedly tested positive on Thanksgiving, to be available Tuesday night, Harbaugh said: “I think I already answered that.”
Notable
Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow had knee surgery and it went well, the team said.
The Bengals said Burrow’s procedure on Wednesday “went as planned and he is expected to make a complete recovery.”