League does some shuffling to schedule
The NFL has juggled its regular- season schedule due to coronavirus outbreaks with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots.
Nine teams are being affected, some over a period of weeks through Nov. 22: the Los Angeles Chargers, New England, Tennessee, Denver, Buffalo, Kansas City, Miami, New York Jets and Jacksonville.
Denver’s game at New England, originally scheduled for Sunday and then moved to tonight when the Patriots had more positive COVID-19 tests, now will be played next Sunday afternoon.
Kansas City’s game at Buffalo, which was supposed to be played Thursday night, has been moved back to Monday, Oct. 19.
Tuesday night’s game with the Bills at the Titans, which originally was to be played Sunday, remains on schedule despite another positive test result in Tennessee.
The NFL rescheduled New England’s game for a second straight week after Stephon Gilmore tested positive. This latest positive result puts their outbreak at four, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Titans last played Sept. 27 because of an outbreak that has now reached 24. They’ve already had a game with Pittsburgh first postponed, then rescheduled to Oct. 25. They sent out a statement saying they learned a staff member tested positive. SOURCE: SAINTS’ THOMAS SUSPENDED >> New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas has been suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team after punching a teammate during practice, a person familiar with the situation said.
The person said that Thomas, who has been working his way back from a Week 1 ankle sprain, was on schedule to make his return to action tonight against the Los Angeles Chargers until he lost his cool near the end of Saturday’s practice and punched defensive back C. J. Gardner-Johnson.
Thomas was kicked out of practice immediately and was informed that he would be sent home until after tonight’s game, the person said. RIVERS EXTENDS STREAK, REACHES MILESTONE >> Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers started his 229th consecutive game on Sunday in Cleveland, tying him with Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews for the second-longest streak in NFL history. Brett Favre owns the record of 297 starts in a row.
Also, the 38-year-old Rivers, in his first season with Indy, reached 5,000 career completions, joining only Favre, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning on that list. Rivers reached the milestone on a 11-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton in the first quarter.