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NFL COVID Protocols Toughen

Seattle Seahawks run out to play in an empty stadium.

By Trevor Annicharico

Week 4fourof the NFL season ran into a wall. Three teams featured multiple players testing positive for the COVID-19, which in turn affected even more teams in the league. The Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, and Pittsburgh Steelers were the teams affected by this.

The Titans got their positive tests back Sunday, the day of the game. They decided to send the player home and not notify the league, so that they could still play.

After winning the game, 18 players and staff members ended up testing positive for the Coronavirus by Tuesday. They were supposed to be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in week four, but the game was cancelled and moved to October 25.

The Titans broke protocol again when the players were sent home and were told to quarantine until the next bunch of tests got back. Instead of them doing that, a group of players went to a football field and practiced. Those players were notified and were fined by the NFL.

New England Patriots star quarterback Cam Newton also tested positive for the COVID-19. This caused the game against the Kansas City Chiefs to change from Sunday to Monday night football.

All these positive tests made the NFL scramble to change the protocols and try to make the league safer. The NFL commissioner said that they are not in danger of needing to shut the league down, but will be taking precautions based off of the week four test results and the breaking of protocols by the Titans.