Two games rescheduled because of coronavirus
The Buffalo BillsTennessee Titans game will be moved from Sunday to Tuesday night as long as Tennessee has no more positive tests for the coronavirus in the interim, a person with direct knowledge of the switch told the Associated Press on Thursday.
The NFL also will reschedule the BroncosPatriots game from Sunday to Monday night after New England had a smaller outbreak of the virus.
Three games have been postponed because of the pandemic: Pittsburgh at Tennessee in Week 4 was moved to Oct. 25.
Buffalo is scheduled to host City next Thursday, and that game will be rescheduled.
The Titans’ outbreak increased to 23 with tight end MyCole Pruitt and a defensive back from the practice squad put on the reserve/ COVID19 list Thursday afternoon. The Titans’ facility remains closed with the team still prohibited from any inperson activities.
Tennessee ( 30) has had 21 positive tests returned since Sept. 29, though now 13 players are on the reserve/ COVID19 list, including four starters and a long snapper.
Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel has talked with reporters only once this week, and he said Tuesday that he stood by the franchise following league protocols.
The investigation by the NFL and the players’ association into how Tennessee turned into the league’s first COVID19 outbreak reportedly found “several specific incidents” of the Titans possibly breaking protocols dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Also, Tennessee was told players could not gather together for any inperson activKansas ities either at the club’s facility or elsewhere a day before several Titans worked out at a private school.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell warned all 32 teams Monday that following league protocols is mandatory and that violations forcing changes in the schedule could lead to being stripped of draft choices or even forfeiting games.
The NFL also updated protocols Oct. 2.
Herbert is Chargers’ starter:
Anthony Lynn has taken the temporary starter tag off quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach named Herbert the starter for the rest of the season, beginning with Monday night’s game at New Orleans.
“He has impressed me from the very beginning. I think he’s shown the consistency that you look for, especially in a rookie quarterback,” Lynn said. “He’s made some pretty nice throws and some great plays. So I think this young man is just going to continue to get better.”
Tyrod Taylor was the starter going into the season and directed the Chargers to a Week 1 win over Cincinnati. But the 10year veteran suffered a rib injury during the game and then suffered a punctured lung while receiving a painkilling injection before L. A.’ s Sept. 20 game against Kansas City.