Titans-Steelers postponed after Tennessee’s coronavirus outbreak

The NFL has opted to postpone the Sunday matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers in Nashville after a number of Titans players and staffers contracted the coronavirus, first reported ESPN’s Dianna Russini.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport added that the league is targeting Monday or Tuesday for a game before the league confirmed the reports.

“The Steelers-Titans game, originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, will be rescheduled to allow additional time for further daily COVID-19 testing and to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel,” the NFL said in a statement. “Details on the new game date and time on either Monday or Tuesday will be announced as soon as possible.”

The ultimate determination will be made depending on this week’s test results, Russini reported.

Three players and five personnel members for the Titans tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, while another player came back positive Tuesday, reported ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

Tennessee and the Minnesota Vikings, the Titan’s Week 3 opponent, have suspended in-person club activities until further notice. The Vikings have no known positives as of Tuesday’s results, according to Graziano. The Vikings are scheduled to play the Texans in Houston on Sunday.

The suspension of in-person activities in the Titans facility are expected to last until Saturday, per Russini, which would create a competitive disadvantage with Pittsburgh. No coaches or players will be allowed in the building.

Graziano reported that contact tracing found 48 close contacts with the eight original people who tested positive in Tennessee.

“Out of abundance of caution, the organization has decided to work remotely today as we follow NFL protocols related to the COVID-19 virus,” the Titans said in a statement Tuesday. “Several tests have come back positive and are working through the process of confirming them.”

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