The NFL tentatively moved Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens to Tuesday night, ESPN reported.
It’s the second time the game has been moved because of an outbreak of COVID-19 among the Ravens. The game initially was set for Thanksgiving night in Pittsburgh, then shifted to Sunday afternoon.
If this game occurs on Tuesday, the NFL will need to make another schedule modification. Baltimore is scheduled to play next Thursday — two days after the Steelers game — at home against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Steelers are set to host the Washington Football Team on Dec. 6.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called off Friday’s practice, pending “clarification from the NFL” as to the status of their home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, a Pittsburgh team spokesman said.
Quarterback and reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson is one of 10 players — eight of them starters — on Baltimore’s reserve/COVID-19 list. Placement on the list indicates a player has tested positive or is considered a high-risk close contact with an infected person.
ProFootball Talk reported another Ravens player tested positive Friday in point-of-care testing. The result of a confirming PCR test was expected later in the day.
The team said it “disciplined” a strength and conditioning coach for not following COVID-19 protocols, including not wearing a mask in the team facility, not reporting symptoms of the virus and failing to wear a required tracking device.
ESPN reported Thursday night that Ravens coach John Harbaugh told the players their facility will be shut down until Monday at the earliest.
The Steelers (10-0) earlier saw their game against the Titans rescheduled because of an outbreak affecting the Tennessee team. That moved forced the Steelers to have a Week 4 bye and gave them games in 13 straight weeks to end the season. Pittsburgh hoped to play on Thanksgiving to have the weekend off.
