More Ravens positive, but game still on
Despite coronavirus outbreaks on both teams in recent days, the Ravens-Steelers game is still on for Tuesday night — for now.
Baltimore had three more members of its team test positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, including Pro Bowl tight end and Type 1 diabetic Mark Andrews, according to reports.
That brought the team’s total to at least 12 players and 10 staff members who have recently contracted the virus. Twentyplus players have been added to the reserve/COVID-19 list in recent days.
While it was Baltimore’s outbreak that led to the Ravens-Steelers game, originally slotted in prime time on Thanksgiving, being rescheduled, the Steelers have been dealing with COVID problems, too.
On Saturday, star running back and cancer survivor James Conner tested positive for the virus, in addition to special teams coordinator Danny Smith. The cases were revealed after the team a day earlier put three players on the reserve/ COVID-19 list.
Additionally, the Broncos had all of their quarterbacks declared ineligible to play in Sunday’s game against the Saints due to COVID-19 protocols. Denver and the Ravens are now under investigation for potential discipline, according to ESPN.
➤ The NFL has fined the Saints $500,000 and stripped them of a 2021 seventh
round draft pick for violating league COVID-19 protocols, a person with direct knowledge of the discipline said.
The Patriots were fined $350,000 for similar violations, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the teams have announced the fines or loss of draft pick.
➤ Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said the team was blindsided by new coronavirus regulations put in place by Santa Clara County officials that will force the team to find a temporary new home for practice and games.
The county announced the new rules Saturday that include a three-week ban on practices and games for contact sports starting Monday.
“We’ve been working with them as a partner, just trying to figure it out,” Shanahan said. “For us to be heading out here yesterday and the relationship we have with them, for all of our players and coaches and everyone on that plane and our wives to find that out while we’re getting on a plane and no one to tell us. It was just extremely disappointing.”