Cam Newton reportedly tests positive for coronavirus; Patriots-Chiefs game postponed
The NFL has postponed Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium until either Monday or Tuesday night after positive COVID-19 tests on both teams, the league announced Saturday.
Patriots quarterback Cam Newton was among the positive tests, according to multiple reports.
“In consultation with infectious disease experts, both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA to evaluate multiple close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments,” the league said in a statement. “All decisions will be made with the health and safety of players, team and gameday personnel as our primary consideration.”
Earlier this week, after multiple Tennessee Titans players and other personnel tested positive, that team’s home game against Pittsburgh was first postponed until Monday or Tuesday night, then to Week 7, when the schedule could be rearranged to accommodate a make-up game.
Although the league did not identify which Patriots and Chiefs players tested positive, the Kansas City Star reported Saturday that Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was one who did.
There were three more positive tests among the Titans on Saturday, bringing the total to 16 — eight players and eight other employees.
It’s conceivable the scope of that outbreak could jeopardize Tennessee’s Week 5 home game against Buffalo.
With two games already postponed because of positive coronavirus tests, the NFL could benefit from expanding the season to an 18th week.
The eighth Tennessee player to test positive has not been identified, but the previous seven are defensive lineman DaQuan Jones, long snapper Beau Brinkley, practice squad tight end Tommy Hudson, outside linebacker Kamalei Correa, cornerback Kristian Fulton and receivers Adam Humphries and Cam Batson.
The Titans shut down their facility to in-person activities Tuesday after the first batch of positive tests. They had hoped to reopen it early next week.
As a result of the Patriots-Chiefs game being postponed, the NFL shifted the start time of the Indianapolis Colts-Chicago Bears game on CBS from 1 p.m. ET to 4:25 p.m. ET.
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