The NFL has decided to postpone the Week 4 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans in the wake of the latter having nine positive COVID-19 test results.
After ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that the game would be postponed and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport revealed the plan was to move the game to Monday or Tuesday, the league released a statement confirming both reports.
The league notes that a decision “will be announced as soon as possible” and that the additional time given will allow for more testing “to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel.”
New from the league pic.twitter.com/RnLcZ9mSPj
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) September 30, 2020
This was always the likely result after four Titans players and five personnel tested positive for COVID-19.
This decision allows more time for testing, but it also gives the Titans an opportunity to get in at least one practice, which wouldn’t have been possible if the game was played on Sunday because the Titans can’t re-enter their facility as a team until Saturday at the earliest.
If the game takes place on Monday, the Titans would get one day to practice fully. If Tuesday is the choice, that would give Tennessee two days of full practice. Either way, the Titans will get less practice time than the Steelers.
There was an avenue for the league to move the game to a later date, but apparently that is not in the plans.
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