The NFL doesn’t want the Baltimore Ravens to practice on Monday morning. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league canceled Baltimore’s morning practice.
The Ravens haven’t practiced since last Monday when they had a walkthrough before the influx of positive COVID-19 tests started. They’re currently scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Steelers Tuesday evening, a game that has been rescheduled twice already due to Baltimore’s COVID-19 outbreak.
Baltimore already has 20 players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and have seen Mark Andrews, Matthew Judon, and Willie Snead test positive over the weekend but not yet be added to the list. With at least 23 players expected to be on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Baltimore currently has several positions without a starter on the depth chart and even more with no depth behind the starter due to injuries and COVID-19. However, the NFL showed they won’t reschedule a game because of a lack of competitive balance, considering they allowed the Denver Broncos to play on Sunday despite not having a healthy quarterback on the roster.
To be honest, I don’t get the NFL’s plan here. League officials don’t want the Ravens to practice, seemingly with the risk of further COVID-19 spread in mind. Yet, considering the game is still currently scheduled to happen, they’re perfectly fine with those same players and coaches playing Tuesday evening; hitting, blocking, and tackling players from another team, while stuffing themselves into a plane and locker room together.
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