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NFL power rankings 5.0: The sky is falling in Texas for Cowboys, Texans
SportsPulse: A quarter of the season is in the books. The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans would probably like a redo. Mackenzie Salmon reveals our biggest risers and fallers in this week’s power rankings.
A string of days in which the Titans returned only negative COVID-19 tests has coach Mike Vrabel, in his word, “hopeful.”
Hopeful that the team can reopen its facility Wednesday. Hopeful that the Titans can host the Buffalo Bills at Nissan Stadium on Sunday as originally scheduled.
A person familiar with the league’s thinking confirmed the Titans could be back in their team facility by Wednesday, pending NFL approval, after the team on Tuesday returned no positive COVID-19 test results for a second straight day. The person requested anonymity because no official announcement has been made.
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The Titans had 18 members of their team test positive between Tuesday and Sunday of last week, including nine players and nine team personnel. Vrabel said the infected individuals are progressing and “headed in the right direction, but I’m not going to get into specific individual’s symptoms.”
Vrabel said the team won’t know for certain until early Wednesday if it can return to Saint Thomas Sports Park.
“Potential for the team facility to reopen (Wednesday),” said the league source, who added the NFL and NFLA’s joint investigation into whether the Titans violated COVID-19 protocols still is ongoing.
In a memo Monday to team executives, head coaches and infection control officers, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote: “Simply put, compliance is mandatory.”
“Now is the time to recommit ourselves to our protocols and best practices for the duration of the season,” Goodell wrote in the memo, which was obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
Goodell warned that protocol violations that lead to schedule adjustments due to the spread of the virus will be subject to competitive discipline — including the loss or adjustment of draft picks in addition to the potential for forfeits — on top of the financial consequences already threatened to escalate.
Vrabel on Tuesday reiterated that he stood by the team’s efforts in following the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
“They (league officials) have been here,” Vrabel said. “We’ve met with them. I’ve met with them and we’ve been in constant contact with the league as it relates to their thoughts. … I’ll leave that up to the league, to discuss that.”
Asked if he expects any disciplinary measures to be imposed on the Titans by the league, Vrabel said: “I’m just trying to prepare the team. I think the league will put something out or I think that would be something for them to talk about. I don’t expect anything either way. I’m expected to try to get ready with these players that we’ll hopefully have in there (Wednesday). “
Whenever the Titans are able to re-enter their team facility, they’ll do so with stricter protocols in place, including wearing face masks on the practice field.
Since Sept. 24, the Titans have had 20 positive tests – 10 players and 10 team personnel. Seven position groups have been affected since the outbreak.
The outbreak, the first to hit an NFL team, forced the league to reshuffle part of its schedule. The Titans and Steelers now are on their open week, and their Week 7 game will be played at noon Oct. 25.
The list of Titans players who have been placed on the COVID-19/reserve list since Sept. 24 are:
- defensive lineman DaQuan Jones
- long snapper Beau Brinkley
- tight end Tommy Hudson (practice squad)
- outside linebacker Kamalei Correa
- cornerback Kristian Fulton
- cornerback Greg Mabin (practice squad)
- wide receiver Adam Humphries
- wide receiver Cam Batson (practice squad)
- defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons
- fullback Khari Blasingame
Vrabel said he was hopeful “most” of the infected staff members would be able to return in time for the Bills game, but indicated the infected players would not be available for Sunday’s game if it is played as scheduled.
It leaves the Titans (3-0) shorthanded as they prepare for the surging Bills (4-0). Vrabel said some players would have to pull “double duty” during practice to help give the starters looks at the Bills, notably defensive backs playing as wide receivers.
If the game is played Sunday, Vrabel said the Titans would count upon at least some of the team’s practice squad players to fill in.
“That’s just where we’re at,” Vrabel said. “But confident that we’ll have the right number of players at each position for the game.”
