Two more members of the Tennessee Titans, one player and one staff member, have tested positive for COVID-19, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That brings the total number of positive Titans’ tests to 18, Including those, 18 Titans players and staff have tested positive, and the Titans have had new positives every day for the past six days.
Schefter also reported that the NFL and NFL Players Association are investigating whether the Titans violated the NFL and NFLPA’s joint COVID-19 protocols, which could have possibly led to their current outbreak.
Titans under investigation
According to Schefter, NFL and NFLPA officials arrived in Tennessee on Friday to conduct an investigation and asked the Titans to turn over multiple videos of team activities so they can determine the root of the outbreak. One source told ESPN that the NFL and NFLPA don’t believe the protocols are a failure, and that the outbreak is a result of the Titans not following the protocols.
Not surprisingly, the Titans don’t share that opinion. Schefter reported that team believes they have followed the rules and been compliant with protocols such as mask wearing. In fact, according to Schefter, the Titans believe that they’ve done a better job of following the protocols than other NFL teams.
However, an NFL source told ESPN that they believe the outbreak began with the coaches and spread when some individuals failed to report symptoms and wear masks, which is required. It’s also possible that at least one coach could have failed to report that he’d been around someone who tested positive for COVID-19, which is also a violation of the protocols.
If the Titans are found to have not properly followed the COVID-19 protocols, it’s possible that they could be disciplined with fines and even the loss of draft picks.
Related: NFL 2020 season
21 PHOTOSNFL 2020 seasonSee GalleryNFL 2020 season
Chicago Bears Roquan Smith (58), Josh Woods (55), Joel Iyiegbuniwe (45) and James Vaughters (93) listen during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions players stand arm in arm during a social justice video before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton shouts as he warms up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins play before empty stands during the coronavirus pandemic in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass as he warms up before playing against the Los Angeles Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio.(Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 13: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates a touchdown run with teammates against the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals, teammates and the Los Angeles Chargers stand in unity during the U.S. National Anthem at Paul Brown Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The NFL began their 2020 season and the Bengals didn’t allow fans in attendance due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 13: The San Francisco 49ers run onto the field for their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 13: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaves the field following a loss against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 13: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws against the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 13: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (29) dives past San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (56) to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) leaps over Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton (28) during the second quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) celebrates with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) calls an audible against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants players kneel on the field before playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 27: Cam Newton #1 of the New England Patriots throws a pass during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 27: Cam Newton #1 of the New England Patriots reacts during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 27: Carl Nassib #94 celebrates with Johnathan Abram #24 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Up Next
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Titans’ Week 5 game in jeopardy
The Titans’ outbreak this week led to the postponement of their Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but with Sunday marking the sixth straight day of positive tests, it’s possible that yet another Titans game could be affected.
Schefter reported that the Titans’ Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, which is to be played on Oct. 11, is in jeopardy of being postponed. The Titans need several days with zero positive tests before they can reopen their facility, and even with a full week before facing Buffalo they’re already cutting it close.
As of now, the earliest they can reopen their facility is Wednesday — and that’s only if Sunday’s positive tests are the last ones. If more Titans players or staff test positive on Monday or Tuesday, they wouldn’t be able to reopen their facility until Thursday or Friday, making it extremely difficult to pull off a Sunday game with appropriate prep time.
The Titans-Steelers game that was supposed to be played during Week 4 has been rescheduled for Oct. 25.
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