If you thought the NFL should review its COVID-19 policies and protocols after reading news of the Titans outbreak, you are not alone.
Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement to team executives on Tuesday:
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell just sent this memo to club executives in light of the #Titans eight new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, urging clubs to revisit steps taken to limit close contacts and review procedures for bringing in new players, among other precautions. pic.twitter.com/vxkk8Z9Xbh
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 29, 2020
At its core, Goodell’s statement urges all parties to remain diligent with their efforts and encourages them to re-visit COVID policies.
It comes hours after eight members of the Titans organization tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. The positive tests led the Titans and Vikings (their most recent opponent) to suspend in-person activities until further notice. Minnesota, which reports it has had no positive tests to this point, will go about preparing for their Sunday game against the Houston Texans while following protocols in place. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s operations might be shut down until Saturday.
In any case, this is a sizable hurdle for both teams to clear. So much so, the league is already talking about contingency plans regarding the Week 4 matchup between the Titans and Steelers:
NFL wants to and intends to play the Titans-Steelers game as scheduled Sunday; one of the contingency plans to allow for additional testing and contact tracing to occur would be to move the game to Monday night, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 29, 2020
I appreciate the NFL’s desire to push through testing and play an important game between two division leaders. But if the league is serious about getting through this season, teams should follow the league mandate. And while we’re at it, the league should follow its own lead, too.