In an attempt to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches, and others, the NFL is postponing the Week 4 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.
Here’s the official statement from the league, via NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport:
Official statement from @NFLprguy on the #Titans–#Steelers being pushed back a day or two. pic.twitter.com/pHkWtEHKig
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2020
The news comes one day after the Titans shut down in-person operations after three players and five staffers tested positive for COVID-19 after their game against the Vikings. This has been a possibility since news of the Titans outbreak occurred. And that the league is pushing teams to re-visit protocols suggests it’s trying to make sure everyone is taking it as seriously as possible.
It’s not all worrisome on the COVID/NFL front. For instance:
One more #Titans player learned early this morning he tested positive in Tuesday’s round of COVID-19 testing, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. All of Tuesday’s other tests in Tennessee — and all tests for the #Vikings — came back negative this morning.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 30, 2020
I have some obvious mixed feelings about this one. The Titans are now up to nine members of their organization who’ve tested positive for COVID-19. However, only one new case sprung from Titans camp. Seeing how team-wide outbreaks slowed down the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins during the MLB season, I suppose things could have been worse for the Titans.
The most positive update is that no one on the Vikings tested positive. If things continue to move in the right direction for Minnesota, its facility will open before Tennessee’s. That would put them in a place to prepare for Sunday’s game in Houston. Considering how the Bears play the Titans and Vikings (twice) later in the season, it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Meanwhile, it’s unsurprising to see the NFL continuing to nudge teams to do better:
NFL sent another strongly-worded memo to team executives, GMs and HCs today, urging all to be in compliance with game-day protocols (wearing masks). “We will address lack of compliance with accountability measures that may include…suspensions and/or forfeiture of draft picks.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2020
Laugh all you want at the idea of a “strongly-worded memo” that threatens to take away draft picks. I did at first. But outside of cold, hard cash, there are few things teams value as much. The mere idea of cost-controlled elite talent gives many front office types #TheFeels. So maybe taking that away will be the thing that gets folks to take the league’s mask mandate more seriously.