NFL’s Overnight COVID Scare, Bray Day, A-Rob’s Generosity, and Other Bears Bullets

Because I spent a healthy chunk of my day ignoring things on my to-do list in order to watch college football, I was almost able to talk myself into thinking yesterday was a normal Saturday in October. I know better than to think that, but it was nice to make like a tree and leaf my responsibilities for another day.

•   What a difference an overnight sleep makes:

•   The NFL postponed the Titans-Steelers Week 4 matchup to Week 7 due to an outbreak of positive COVID tests (up to 16) within the Titans organization. And on Saturday morning, it was reported that Patriots QB Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19 and would miss Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. Ope! That game turned out to be pushed back to Monday or Tuesday, as Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu tested positive for COVID. So to see news of the Saints having a positive after flying to Detroit was troubling. But seeing the re-test come back as negative feels like a step in the right direction.

•   Tom Pelissero (NFL Network) notes that two of the 10 Titans players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list are their lat two first-round picks. Obviously, contracting the coronavirus is not good. But this is also awful for player development. I hope everyone can have a speedy recovery.

•   Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the NFL and NFLPA are investigating to see if the Titans violated COVID-19 protocols. If that turns out to be the case, the league could make an example out of the Titans with how they dole out a punishment. That the NFL and NFLPA are working together in this shows how seriously this is being taken.

•   Some more movement in the right direction for the Chiefs and Patriots:

•   I’m reserving judgment on how the NFL handles this crisis until further notice. Although, I can’t shake the feeling that so much of this could’ve been avoided had the league used its offseason to come with a contingency plan to create Bubble environments rather than try to thread the needle in the middle of a pandemic.

•   On a lighter note, Allen Robinson is the best:

•   P.S. Today is a great day to extend Allen Robinson’s contract. Don’t believe me? Just ask teammate Tarik Cohen:

•   I’m going to miss watching Cohen juke, jab-step, and scamper around the field for the rest of the season. And don’t kid yourself … you’re gonna miss him, too.

•   Calling up Tyler Bray from the practice squad for Sunday’s game raised some eyebrows, but we eventually got answers. Kinda:

•   News of the call-up naturally led some folks to go off the rails with unfounded rumors of different varieties. And while those were put to bed, we still don’t have an explanation as to why the Bears are using one of two available extra spots to roster a QB who won’t be active.

•   #BrayDay:

•   Kevin Fishbain’s ability to unearth fun nuggets makes him one of my favorite follows:

•   The NFL fined Akiem Hicks because he isn’t above the laws of gravity:

 

•   Defensive lineman Mario Edwards was a late addition to the injury report. A foot injury has him listed as questionable to play against the Colts.

•   I still expect the Packers to handle the Falcons, but their injury report for Monday Night Football is lengthy:

•   What in the world is going on in the land of the Vikings?

written by

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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