BARRY WILNER
The NFL has postponed three games due to the COVID-19 outbreak: Las Vegas in Cleveland from Saturday to Monday; and Seattle to Los Angeles Rams and Washington to Philadelphia Sunday through Tuesday.
The Browns could do without 16 regular players on Saturday, so the game is slated to kick off at 5:00 pm ET on Monday. It will be televised on the NFL Network.
Washington and Philadelphia will play on Tuesday at 7:00 pm, as will the Seahawks and the Rams. Both games will be televised by Fox and available on the Sunday Ticket.
“We made these schedule changes based on doctors’ recommendations and following discussions with the NFLPA as we are seeing a new, highly transmissible form of the virus this week, which has led to a significant increase in the number of cases in the league,” the NFL said in a statement. … “We continue to make decisions in consultation with medical experts to ensure the health and safety of the NFL community.”
Previously, the NFL had no plans to reschedule any games due to the coronavirus outbreak. It even stated that “fines may be involved.” But recent events surrounding the omicron strain COVID-19 have changed the league’s mindset, as have several league outbreaks in week 15 of the season.
Some players did not approve of this move.
“I pay the player’s dues to be deceived and violated the rules!” Raider midfielder KJ Wright tweeted about the league and players alliance. “If it were the other way around, I swear we would play tomorrow.”
Eagles Security Rodney McLeod tweeted, “So we have to get hurt and disrupt our schedule because of another team’s mistake. It makes sense! ”
Last season, in the midst of the coronavirus, the NFL finished the season on schedule but had to reschedule 15 games, some mid-week. In July, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell warned 32 teams that games would not be rescheduled under such circumstances and penalties could occur instead.
“As we learned last year, we can play an entire season if we are firmly committed to adhering to our health and safety protocols and making the necessary adjustments in response to changing conditions,” Goodell said.
On Friday, these adjustments included another postponement.
Earlier Friday, Saints coach Sean Payton tested positive for COVID-19 and was immediately isolated from the team.
Payton, vaccinated and testing positive in 2020 for the coronavirus, will remain isolated for 10 days unless he meets the league requirements for a fully vaccinated individual to return to a team environment.
The Saints said defense coordinator Dennis Allen was named head coach of the game Sunday night in Tampa Bay. Payton is expected to return to the New Orleans game against the Miami Dolphins on December 27.
Payton tested positive after he missed training on Wednesday when the club said he was “in bad weather” but tested negative. Payton returned to training and meetings on Thursday.
Payton’s test positive came in response to a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the NFL in recent days, reflecting trends seen in the general population.
Three Saints players – defender Cameron Jordan, running back Mark Ingram and receiver Ty Montgomery – did not play against the New York Jets on Sunday due to positive COVID-19 test results. But they were all activated from the New Orleans / COVID-19 reserve list.
The Saints (6-7) lost five games to the Jets 30-9 and are still vying for one of the NFC playoff spots with four regular season games remaining.
In the second week of this season, the Saints were left without numerous assistant coaches due to the virus outbreak, but Payton was not among those who tested positive. Payton was among the first NFL employees known to contract COVID-19 in the spring of 2020.
Also Friday:
– Washington listed Taylor Heinicke on the COVID-19 list, making the team’s quarterback’s plan for the upcoming Philadelphia game a total uncertainty.
Based on the updated league rules, Heinicke can still play if he tests negative twice this weekend and remains asymptomatic. Back-up Kyle Allen entered the coronavirus protocol on Tuesday and also remains possible if cleared.
Training Team QB Kyle Schurmur will start if neither Heinike nor Allen are available. He played for Vanderbilt and is the son of Denver Broncos Attack Coordinator Pat Shurmur.
Washington also signed Garrett Gilbert of the New England training team on Friday. Gilbert has one start in the NFL with Dallas, but has known coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner since their 2018 collaboration with the Carolina Panthers.
With the addition of Heinike and the removal of central Keith Ismael from the COVID-19 roster, Washington has 21 players unavailable for virus-related reasons, including two in the reserve with an injury and two on the training team. Defensive and Special Team units were destroyed, with defensive tackles by Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis, Rushers pass by Montes Sweet and James-Smith Williams and defender Camren Curl. But the delay until Tuesday gives Washington a better chance of bringing Allen, Pot, and others back.
Washington (6-7) is currently in the last place to host NFC for its 15th week at The Eagles, who are also 6-7, and are ending their week of goodbye.
– With Baker Mayfield and Keyes Kinum in the COVID-19 reserve, the Cleveland Browns sign quarterback Kyle Lauletta, who trained with the team. Lauletta’s agent announced his move to Twitter.
It is planned that third line defender Nick Mullens should come out at the start. He made 16 starts in three seasons for the San Francisco 49ers.
The protective end Jadeweon the Clown has joined the team’s huge COVID-19 roster after testing positive, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. Clowney tested positive alongside midfielders Mac Wilson Sr. and Tony Fields, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team did not release test results.
– The Panthers added Matt Barkley’s Level 3 QB to the COVID-19 roster. Earlier this week, when Barkley fell ill, the team sent understudy P.J. Walker to remote meetings. They keep track of the status of Cam Newton and Walker. If both test positive, Sam Darnold could be dropped from injury reserve, but only if his shoulder is medically cleared.
– Buffalo placed starting left tackle Dionne Dawkins on the COVID-19 roster, making his status in the match against Carolina on Sunday uncertain.
– Miles Gaskin from Miami was allowed to return to training. Before Gaskin was acquitted, there were three fugitives on the COVID-19 list. They play the Jets on Sunday.
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