[Author’s note: Since the original publication of this post, the NFL has announced that Week 5’s game between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers will be rescheduled to Monday or Tuesday.]
The Tennessee Titans closed their team facilities on Tuesday after receiving multiple COVID-19 tests. The Titans’ opponent on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings, has done the same as a cautionary measure.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, there were eight positive tests, three players, and five other members of the organization.
A statement from the NFL on the #Titans COVID-19 situation, along with a #Vikings update: pic.twitter.com/6sgYhemxm4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 29, 2020
Minnesota has not reported any positive tests yet but will continue to work through league protocol until cleared to return to the team facilities.
NFL contact tracing identified 48 members of the Vikings team and staff that came in close proximity with the positive members of the Tennessee franchise.
Dan Graziano of ESPN reported that all eight members of the Titans who tested positive were asymptomatic as of Tuesday morning. The network’s Diana Russini added that a source told her the Titans won’t report back until Saturday, which one would think would put Sunday’s game in serious jeopardy.
A league source just texted me: “We are shutting Tennessee down until Saturday”
That means no Titans coaches or players can be in the building.— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) September 29, 2020
Tennessee was able to improve to 3-0 with a one-point, 31-30 win over Minnesota, but now must wait and see when the team can resume activities. The Vikings are now 0-3.
The league office has not made any ruling as far as next Sunday’s games but is reportedly discussing rescheduling options and contingency plans.
League source confirms that the Titans’ eight positive COVID tests today are CONFIRMED positives. The chance of false positives have been ruled out. So this is the first NFL’s first team outbreak
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 29, 2020
The Tennessee Titans are slated to be at home for Pittsburgh on Sunday, while the Vikings are supposed to play at Houston. Both games are scheduled for an 11 a.m. kickoff EST.
