The NFL has avoided a coronavirus disaster for now.
A league spokesman said on Wednesday one other Titans player tested positive for COVID-19 after three of his teammates and five other personnel had previously tested positive. The Vikings, who lost to the Titans on Sunday, have yet to have any players test positive and plan to re-open their facilities on Thursday.
However, the NFL announced Sunday’s Titans-Steelers game will be postponed to either Monday or Tuesday. The postponement is to “allow additional time for further daily COVID-19 testing and to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel,” the NFL said.
While the additional positive test is still troubling, it can be taken as a positive sign that the league’s isolation procedures are proving effective.
“No one is to blame. I’ve heard crazy reports that somebody is to blame, this person, that person. We’re not interested in trying to blame anybody,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said on Wednesday.
The postponement also gives the Titans additional time to prepare for the game as Tennessee’s facilities will be closed to players until Saturday.
The Titans did not specify which players were infected, but linebacker Kamalei Correa, nose tackle DaQuan Jones, long-snapper Beau Brinkley and practice squad tight end Tommy Hudson were all placed on the reserve/COVID list.
“Some of them are indeed experiencing flu-like symptoms, nothing I think out of the ordinary,” Vrabel said. “We anticipate that they will feel better shortly. Nothing of overly concern, but again, my concern is always with the safety and the health of our players, their families, our staff and their families. And then also the individuals that haven’t tested positive, I think their mental state is strong. They’re excited for a challenge.”