Patriots, Newton ready to resume season against Broncos
NFL expects all of today's games to go ahead as scheduled despite several teams adding players or coaches to COVID-19 lists
WASHINGTON — The NFL was planning late Saturday to play all of the games on its schedule today barring further disruptions by the novel coronavirus.
The hope by the league for a Sunday without more schedule adjustments was confirmed Saturday evening by a person familiar with the NFL's planning. That came near the end of a day on which the New England Patriots reopened their facility after receiving no new positive results Saturday in their daily coronavirus testing.
The Patriots and other teams added players to their COVID-19 reserve lists as the day progressed, and the NFL's belief that all of today's games can be played as scheduled was pending the results of another round of testing.
The Patriots' game against the Denver Broncos in Foxborough, Mass., remains scheduled for today. That game had been pushed back by a week because of positive tests on the Patriots. The Broncos announced Saturday an assistant coach tested positive and would not accompany the team on its trip.
The Jacksonville Jaguars announced they were working remotely Saturday after receiving a positive test result for a practice squad player. The Jaguars said they plan to play today's game against the visiting Detroit Lions as scheduled.
The reopening of the Patriots' facility and their test results were confirmed by a person familiar with the situation. The Patriots worked remotely Friday after receiving one new positive result.
The Patriots reportedly placed running back Sony Michel, guard Shaq Mason and defensive end Derek Rivers on their COVID-19 reserve list. That list is for players who test positive for the coronavirus and those found through
contact tracing to have been exposed to the virus. The Patriots previously placed offensive lineman James Ferentz on the list.
Quarterback Cam Newton and cornerback Stephon Gilmore participated in the Patriots'
practice Thursday after being activated from the COVID-19 reserve list. Newton tested positive, according to a person familiar with the result, and missed an Oct. 5 game at Kansas City. Gilmore confirmed two days after that game that he tested positive.
The Patriots-Broncos game was postponed from last Sunday because of the Patriots' positive tests.
That necessitated other schedule changes because the Broncos had been scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins today.
NFL officials said this week they will consider adding an 18th week to the regular season but only if all games cannot be played in the current 17-week framework.
The Broncos said they learned of the positive test by running backs coach Curtis Modkins early Saturday. Modkins was isolating at his home and was asymptomatic, according to the team
The Jaguars said they became aware Friday night of their positive test and, after it was confirmed, the player self-isolated while the team and the league conducted contact tracing. The Jaguars called the decision to work remotely Saturday “a precautionary measure.”
The NFL has allowed teams in some instances to play games after a single positive test if there is no evidence of widespread transmission of the virus.
The Jaguars placed defensive end Josh Mauro and 12 members of their practice squad on their COVID-19 reserve list, the team announced later Saturday.
The Indianapolis Colts reopened their facility Friday afternoon after it was closed that morning for four initially positive test results that, according to the team, came back negative upon retesting.
The Atlanta Falcons reopened their facility Friday after closing it Thursday following a new positive result. The Falcons placed defensive lineman John Cominsky on their COVID-19 reserve list.
The Baltimore Ravens placed defensive tackle Brandon Williams on their COVID19 reserve list Saturday, the team announced.