It was a rough week for Auburn football as at least nine positive COVID-19 tests resulted in practice being canceled for four straight day.
On Sunday evening, Gus Malzahn spoke on the testing and the fact that two position groups were hit hard.
Auburn will be missing 16 players at the beginning of the week because of positive COVID-19 testing.
Could Auburn play if there was a game this Saturday?
"If it was game week, you would try to play with what you've got."
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) August 31, 2020
“We had a pretty challenging week last week,” Malzahn said. “Some of our guys were off campus with a roommate, a roommate’s girlfriend — it’s really just learning to operate and using COVID etiquette. I really feel strongly that our guys will adapt and adjust.”
In all, per Nathan King, 16 players will have to sit out of practice this upcoming week. The Tigers are set to take the practice field again on Tuesday.
16 Auburn players will not participate in practices this coming week after COVID-19 issues last week, Gus Malzahn says.
— Nathan King (@byNathanKing) August 31, 2020
Along with the positive tests, a lot of players were upset by the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc. and didn’t feel like attending meetings.
“[I] fully supported that,” Malzahn said.
A few SEC teams including Mississippi State and Kentucky decided to not practice on Thursday in a form of protest. Also during the week, Ole Miss players marched to the middle of downtown Oxford in a silent protest.