Titans have league’s first COVID-19 outbreak, with 8 positives
NASHVILLE, TENN. (AP) » The Tennessee Titans suspended in-person activities through Friday after the NFL says three Titans players and five personnel tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first COVID-19 outbreak of the NFL season in Week 4.
The outbreak threatened to jeopardize the Titans’ game this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers and posed the first significant inseason test to the league’s coronavirus protocols.
The NFL issued a statement Tuesday saying both the Titans and Minnesota Vikings suspended in-person activities Tuesday following the Titans’ test results. The Titans beat the Vikings 3130 in Minneapolis last weekend mediately.and were working
“Both clubs are working to determine when they can closely with the NFL and reopen. the NFLPA, including our Minnesota is scheduled to infectious disease experts, to visit Houston (0-3) on Sunevaluate close contacts, per-day. form additional testing and TheTitans (3-0) are schedmonitor developments,” the uled to host the Steelers (3league said. 0) on Sunday in a matchup of
A person familiar with two of the league’s seven resituation told The Associmaining undefeated teams. ated Press the eight test reWith the Titans unable to sults were all confirmed practice until Saturday at positives, making this the the earliest, when that game first outbreak since the seamight be played is unknown. son began on Sept 10. The “I just wanna play,” Titans person spoke to the AP on starting left guard Rodger condition of anonymity beSaffold tweeted. cause of health privacy reg“All decisions will bemade ulations. with health andsafety as our
The Vikings released a primary consideration,” the statement saying they had NFL said. “We will continue not received any positive reto share updates as more sults from their testing afinformation becomes availter Sunday’s game against able.” the Titans. They also said Commissioner Roger they followed NFL protocol Goodell sent a memo to by closing their facility im- teams Tuesday noting the protocols set up by the league and the NFLPA are being followed. Those who tested positive will be isolated, monitored and offered medical care, and family members also are offered testing. Officials and others who worked the game will be tested.
“This is not unexpected; as Dr. Sills and others have emphasized, there will be players and staff who will test positive during the season,” Goodell wrote in the memo obtained by The Associated Press, referencing the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills. “We are exploring in more detail the nature of the close contacts to determine where they occurred (locker room, flights, etc.), and identify any additional learnings that can be shared with all clubs.”