PATS PLAYING WAITING GAME
Slowly revving up to meet Broncos on Sunday
Yet again, all the Patriots can do is test and wait.
Until their next game, until Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore can return, until they can feel safe proclaiming they’ve emerged from their COVID-19 cluster that has sacked the organization the past two weeks.
Defensive tackle Byron Cowart’s positive test immediately sent the team home last Sunday and the league again scrambling to reschedule the Pats’ home game against Denver. Since then, players have enjoyed three straight off days, while Bill Belichick finally met with reporters via video conference Tuesday. During the call, Belichick claimed he didn’t know what the next steps were for Newton and Gilmore to return or when they would take them.
“Some of that has to be scheduled outside of the building and so forth. So, I’ll leave that to the medical department,” Belichick said. “I don’t know exactly what (Newton and Gilmore’s) schedule is.”
Both remain on the team’s COVID-19 reserve list, along with Cowart and practice-squad defensive lineman Bill Murray. All other Patriots are tentatively expected to return to the facility Wednesday for workouts and should practice for the first time on Thursday.
Belichick also said the team is on track to play this weekend, which was stating the obvious. No additional positive tests Tuesday required no change of plans — yet — for the Patriots.
As for the other positive tests, Newton can be cleared as soon as he receives permission from a team physician, provided he’s asymptomatic, as initial reports indicated and his father claimed over the weekend. If Newton’s shown symptoms, he must wait 72 hours from the time they disappear before being activated. The same will hold true for Gilmore come