Postponed TitansSteelers game moved to Oct. 25

The Tennessee Titans now know when they are rescheduled to play the Pittsburgh Steelers after the first NFL game postponed by a COVID-19 outbreak.

Getting back into their own building depends on the results of continued testing. The Titans’ outbreak expanded by two more players testing positive Friday, pushing the team’s total to 14 within the past week.

The outbreak forced the NFL to postpone Tennessee’s game from Sunday to Oct. 25 in Week 7, forcing the Steelers into their unplanned bye. Pittsburgh now will play Baltimore on Nov. 1 with the Ravens’ bye now pushed to Week 7 instead of Week 8, which had been the bye for both teams.

Officials from the NFL and the players’ union also were in Nashville on Friday, meeting with the Titans and reviewing the way the team is handling the matter. The NFL and the players’ union also agreed to continue daily testing, including bye weeks, for the foreseeable future in a decision shared with teams Friday.

Coach Mike Vrabel has said he’s very confident that the Titans have followed the league protocols precisely and that nobody was to blame for this outbreak during a pandemic.

“We continue to follow protocol from the NFL that was set forth, and that continues to change and adapt and adjust,” Vrabel said Thursday. “Whatever the NFL tells us that we’re required to do and we’re supposed to do as positive tests come in, that’s what we’ll do.”

The NFL already had postponed the Titans’ game Sunday against Pittsburgh. That came a day after the league said it hoped the teams would play Monday or Tuesday. But another positive test result Thursday led to the postponement and Friday’s rescheduling.

Then two additional positive test results came in Friday, a person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither the NFL nor the Titans had announced the latest results. Each new positive test requires the team’s infectious control officer to track down everyone in contact with those people.

The Minnesota Vikings (03) again had no positive test results Friday, leaving them on target to visit Houston (03) on Sunday as scheduled after losing 31-30 to the Titans last week. The Vikings returned to work and practiced at their facility on Thursday. THOMAS, FIVE OTHER STARTERS OUT FOR SAINTS >> The New Orleans Saints ruled out top receiver Michael Thomas and five other starters for Sunday’s game against the Lions in Detroit. Thomas practiced throughout this week as he tries to come back from a sprained ankle suffered in Week 1. However, the Saints ultimately decided that he would not be ready to return this weekend.

Also out for Sunday are: starting cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Janoris Jenkins (shoulder); tight end Jared Cook (groin); left guard Andrus Peat (ankle); and defensive end Marcus Davenport (elbow, toe). SEAHAWKS’DBSADAMS, DUNBAR OUT >> The Seattle Seahawks will be without starting safety Jamal Adams and starting cornerback Quinton Dunbar for Sunday’s game at Miami, leaving an already thin secondary even more vulnerable.

Seattle ruled Adams out due to a groin injury suffered last Sunday against Dallas. Dunbar will miss his second straight game due to a knee injury that developed after Seattle’s Week 2 victory over New England.

Tre Flowers will start his second straight game in place of Dunbar, but it’s not clear who will step in for Adams. Lano Hill is listed as the backup at strong safety but he was out of last week’s game due to a back injury and is listed as questionable against the Dolphins. Hill did not practice either Thursday or Friday.

Also out this week is rookie linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who suffered a sprained knee in his first start last week. ALSO >> Justin Herbert will make his third start at quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers without one of his top receivers and a pair of starters on the offensive line. The Chargers officially ruled out Tyrod Taylor (chest/ribs) for Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay along with tackle Bryan Bulaga ( back), guard Trai Turner (groin) and wide receiver Mike Williams (hamstring). ... Cleveland Browns star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. practiced after missing time with a back issue earlier this week and is expected to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. ... Jacksonville Jaguars receiver DJ Chark is no longer on the injury report and is expected to return to the starting lineup at Cincinnati.