NFL moves 2 games due to outbreaks
Keeping an eye on the world of sports during the pandemic:
The Bills-Titans game has been moved from Sunday to Tuesday night as long as the Titans have no more positive tests for COVID-19 in the interim, The Associated Press reported Thursday night.
The NFL also is rescheduling Sunday’s Broncos-Patriots game fromSunday toMonday night after the Patriors had a smaller outbreak ofCOVID-19.
Three games now have been postponed due to the pandemic: the Steelers at Titans in Week 3 was moved to Oct. 25.
The Billswere scheduled to host the Chiefs next Thursday, and that game will be rescheduled.
The Titans’ outbreak increased to 23 on Thursday with tight end MyCole Pruitt and a defensive back from the practice squad put on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday afternoon. The Titans’ facility remains closed with the team still prohibited from any in-person activities.
The investigation by the NFL and the players’ association into how the Titans turned into the league’s first COVID-19 outbreak found “several specific incidents” of the team possibly breaking protocols dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
The Patriots missed a second straight day of practice Thursday after reigning NFL defensive player of the year Stephon Gilmore joined QB Cam Newton on the reserve/ COVID-19 list Wednesday. The Patriots also has a defensive tackle from the practice squad on the list.
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 on Oct. 2.
“Our guys are the ones who are out there in the arena marred by dust, blood, sweat and tears.”
— Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, using Theodore Roosevelt’s famed “TheMan in the Arena” speech to emphasize that his team isn’t backing down despite a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals